2 Missouri men arrested for allegedly keeping missing woman in a cage
09/30/2021 11:43 am PDT
DALLAS COUNTY Mo. (TCD) -- Two Missouri men are facing charges for allegedly restraining and keeping a missing woman in a cage.
WDAF-TV reports Timothy L. Norton and James D. Phelps are charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, and terrorizing.
On Aug. 26, 2021, 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater was reported missing, according to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Rainwater, who had associations in Dallas, Laclede, and Greene Counties, had been missing since July 25, 2021.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that on Sept. 16, 2021, they received information from the FBI about an anonymous tip that led them to a residence in Windyville. According to WDAF, a photo was sent to authorities showing a partially nude Rainwater being held in a cage.
WDAF, citing court documents, reports Phelps was arrested at the scene and was the last person to have seen Rainwater. There were alleged inconsistencies in Phelps' story. He had spoken to a detective previously on Sept. 1, 2021, according to WDAF. Phelps reportedly said that Cassidy was staying with him until she could make it on her own and mentioned going to Colorado. A month prior, however, Phelps reportedly told a detective he had not seen Rainwater since she went to meet a car at the end of his driveway in the middle of the night.
Investigators reportedly received a search warrant for Phelps' cell phone on Sept. 16. According to WDAF, they reportedly found the pictures of Rainwater partially nude in a cage on Phelps' property.
Norton was interviewed on Sept. 19, and, according to WDAF, he provided inaccurate information to police but then told them he knew Rainwater was being held at Phelps' home. Norton allegedly told investigators that Phelps contacted him to help restrain Rainwater.
Norton was arrested Sept. 21, according to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
Both men are reportedly being held without bond. The Sheriff’s Department did not release any additional information about Rainwater’s whereabouts.
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