Mary Luella Watters Police Report
| Submitted | July 31, 2020 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Lucas Johnson
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the The Missouri Sunshine Law, I hereby request the following records:
-The police report for the murder of Mary Luella Watters that took place in Robertsville, MO on August 24, 1979
-Statements provided to police by offender Norman Gilmore regarding the Watters murder
-Statements provided to police by offender George C. Gilmore regarding the Watters murder
-Statements provided to police by offender Kirk Sebastian regarding the Watters murder
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Lucas Johnson
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following The Missouri Sunshine Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 31, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Franklin County Sheriff's Office
This email is to acknowledge receipt of your request for records. Requests
are processed in the order in which they are received. Please be advised
our request volume is currently very high and you have requested records
that are not stored electronically (due to the date of the incident). We
will have to search the paper files to see what, if any records we may have
pursuant to your request. This type of search does include an hourly rate
research fee of $14.72 per hour plus the cost of any supply (paper,
flashdrive, etc) that is needed for the release if records are found.
Please advise if you have a dollar limit that you wish to cap this request.
It could be a week or more before your request can be fully processed. We
will notify you as this status changes. Thank you in advance for your
patience.
Thanks and have a wonderful day,
Kim Moritz
Records Clerk - Front Desk
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
#1 Bruns Lane Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-2560
Fax: (636)583-6877
From: Lucas Johnson
Thanks Ms. Moritz!
I have a quick question before beginning the process. The courts are required to hold the documents permanently due to the fact that the offenders in this case were sentenced to death and the death penalty carried out in 1990. Is the sheriff's office required to hold the records permanently or do you destroy them? If we already know that they have been destroyed because of time limit, there is no point in searching.
If the records were not destroyed due to time passed (41 years), I'm willing to pay for 3 hours research time. I was reading on the Secretary of State's website that some departments destroy their reports even if it was a murder charge (after the case is closed).
Thanks for your help,
Lucas Johnson
From: Franklin County Sheriff's Office
If the report was ours, we would be required to keep a murder report.
Please let me know how you wish for me to proceed.
Thanks and have a wonderful day,
Kim Moritz
Records Clerk - Front Desk
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
#1 Bruns Lane Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-2560
Fax: (636)583-6877
From: Lucas Johnson
Hi Kim,
The incident occurred in Robertsville, MO. I think that is still in the unincorporated area of Franklin County. They also carried out some murders in St. Louis County. I requested those reports from St. Louis County. I would still like to proceed with the search.
Thanks for your help,
Lucas Johnson
From: Franklin County Sheriff's Office
We will begin as search and will be in touch regarding the results of the
search.
Thanks
Kim
From: Lucas Johnson
Thanks Kim!
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following The Missouri Sunshine Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 31, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Franklin County Sheriff's Office
The records you seek have been located and are being scanned so that they
can be released electronically per your request. We would be able to load
the files to a compact disc or flash drive. please let me know if either is
acceptable to you. When complete, an invoice will be sent to your
attention. You will then be able to send the payment and appropriate
mailing supplies - the disc(s) / flash drive(s) would be mailed back to you
in your own self-addressed / postage paid envelope.
Thanks and have a wonderful day,
Kim Moritz
Records Clerk - Front Desk
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
#1 Bruns Lane Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-2560
Fax: (636)583-6877
From: Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Upon further evaluation of the records we have and the specific records you
have requested, it looks like our office does not have all the records you
have requested. From a contact at the prosecutor's office, I was able to
determine that St. Louis County Police Department actually interviewed the
suspects in 1980 or 1981. Statements made or obtained would be with their
records.
Please let me know if you still wish to obtain the initial report from 1979.
Thanks and have a wonderful day,
Kim Moritz
Records Clerk - Front Desk
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
#1 Bruns Lane Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-2560
Fax: (636)583-6877
From: Lucas Johnson
Thank you Kim!
Sorry for the delay but I've been busy with some other matters. How much money is the initial report from 1979 (probably flash drive)?
I have another question regarding a recent case that has nothing to do with this one. Do you have records of search warrants or police reports that have taken place within the last month? This report would deal with the search of the property of Ray Wilson. This happened about 2 weeks ago.
Thanks again,
Lucas
From: Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Regarding the Mary Luella Waters request - the records are ready to be
loaded to a flashdrive if you wish - I have attached an invoice for your
use. If you wish to proceed, please forward your payment (in the form of
check or money order made payable to FCSO or Franklin County Sheriff's
Office) and a self addressed / stamped mailing envelope (to accommodate the
mailing of a flashdrive) to:
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
Attn: Records
#1 Bruns Lane
Union, MO 63084
Regarding your second question- I have report # 2020-09431 involving a
Raymond Wilson- listed as a victim on the report. This report is not yet
complete at this time. The only public record involving this report at this
time would be an incident report. The investigative report would not be
releasable to the general public until the report is complete or becomes
inactive. If you would like to obtain a copy of the incident report, there
is a $2.00 processing fee.
If you have any questions, please call (636) 583-2560.
Thanks and have a wonderful day,
Kim Moritz
Records Clerk - Front Desk
Franklin County Sheriff's Office
#1 Bruns Lane Union, MO 63084
Phone: (636) 583-2560
Fax: (636)583-6877