Hannibal attorney charged with five felonies, including kidnapping, tampering with witness and physical evidence

HANNIBAL, Mo. — A Hannibal attorney has been charged with five felonies involving a traffic crash on Sept. 13 in Shelby County.

Tyler White, 33, of Hannibal was charged Friday in Shelby County Circuit Court with:

• Kidnapping in the second degree, a Class D felony;
• Tampering with a witness in a felony prosecution, a Class D felony;
• Leaving the scene of an accident, a Class E felony;
• Two counts of tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution, a Class E felony.

If convicted by a jury, White could face up to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for a Class D felony and up to four years in prison for a Class E felony. For Class D or E felonies, the court also has the option of sentencing a person to county jail for up to one year. However, any sentence for more than a year must be served in state prison.

Shelby County Judge Mike Greenwell issued an arrest warrant on Friday. White was arrested Friday morning at the Marion County Courthouse in Hannibal. Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers transported White to the Shelby County Jail, where he remained at 5 p.m. Friday.

His bond has been set at $100,000.

An arrest warrant also was issued Friday by Shelby County Judge Kristen Burks for White’s mother, Karen B. White, 68. She has been charged with two counts of hindering the prosecution of a felony, a Class E felony. As of 6 p.m. Friday, Karen White had not yet been arrested.

According to a probable cause statement, Sgt. Terrance Ritter of the Missouri State Highway Patrol was called to investigate an incident of someone leaving the scene of a crash at Shelby County Road 356, east of Shelby County Road 375, at 12:36 p.m. on Sept. 13. Ritter spoke to someone at the scene who said he was called to the location because of vehicle debris near a tree and property damage to a cornfield. Ritter said it appeared a vehicle had struck the tree and was removed.

The person at the scene said he found a prescription pill bottle belonging to Tyler White. As the investigation continued, someone recognized White driving by on an all-terrain vehicle. An investigative stop was made, and Tyler White was asked if he knew about a crash. He said he did not, and he was released.

The investigation then revealed a local resident suffered damage to his corn because of a vehicle driving through his field. The field was southeast of the crash location. Tyler White was recognized again on an all-terrain vehicle, and an investigative stop was made. Tyler White said he didn’t know about a crash but offered to pay restitution “because he has the money.” He then left the scene.

The truck, later to be determined to be owned by Karen White, eventually was found between a quarter of a mile and half of a mile southwest of the crash site. Ritter conducted a preliminary inspection of a truck. The front right area suffered significant damage. The airbags and dash airbags had been deployed. The seat belt in the driver seat and the front passenger seat were extended and locked. Ritter determined two people were in the front seat when the crash occurred. He also observed blood on the passenger side front and rear door and on the passenger side of the bed.

The truck was towed and taken to Leonard Autoworks in Leonard, Mo., where it was held as evidence.

Ritter contacted Karen White the next morning. She said she was aware the truck had been involved in a crash but did not know who was involved or the circumstances of the crash.

Ritter returned to scene of the crash and walked the path of the damaged cornfield. He found a bumper with a registration plate attached. A computer check revealed it was registered to the vehicle involved in leaving the scene of a crash. The property landowner said he had driven the area at about 6 p.m. Sept. 12 and had not observed any damage. However, he observed the damage when he left for work around 3 a.m. Sept. 13.

Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B received a call on Thursday from a woman who said her son was involved in a crash that was not reported, and Tyler White was the driver. The son was interviewed at Blessing Hospital in Quincy. He said he got into a vehicle with Tyler White and was going to his cabin in Shelby County on Sept. 13. While on the way to the cabin, Tyler White crashed his vehicle and the victim was injured.

The victim said Tyler White told him to walk to the cabin, but he had sustained injuries that prohibited him from walking. He claimed Tyler White left him in the cornfield overnight.

The victim said Tyler White had retrieved a tractor the next morning to move the truck. The victim said Tyler White made him get on the tractor and help with removing the truck, but they were unsuccessful. White then transported the victim to the cabin. The victim said Tyler White returned to the scene later and told him he had moved the truck.

The victim said he told Tyler White five times on Sept. 13 that he was injured and needed medical attention. He said he heard law enforcement outside the residence around noon on Sept. 13, and he claims Tyler White told him to “be quiet” and said if anyone asked what happened to him, he was involved in a “four-wheeler crash.” He claimed Tyler White did not provide medical attention.

The victim said that after law enforcement left, Tyler White contacted Karen White using a neighbor’s phone. When Karen White arrived at the cabin, the victim said she argued with her son. Karen White eventually helped the victim to her vehicle and transported the victim and Tyler White from the cabin. The victim said Karen White didn’t provide medical attention, either.

The victim claimed Tyler White wanted him to go to a hospital far away so he could not be seen with the victim, but the victim wanted to go to Blessing Hospital to be treated for his injuries. Karen White dropped Tyler White off at her Hannibal residence, then took the victim to Blessing Hospital. The victim claimed Karen White dropped him off at the front door of the hospital and left.

The victim claimed Karen White knew what had taken place in the early morning hours of Sept. 13.