KEITH BASS II

Keith Bass II was granted a continuance until 9 a.m. May 4 in the case of the alleged murder of 45-year-old Theresa Bass of Excelsior Springs and attempted murder of Bobby Neal Jr., who succumbed to his injuries on March 18.

Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Shane T. Alexander granted the continuance due to good cause.

Keith, who continues to be held on $1 million cash or surety bond, appeared in court for the hearing, along with his public defender, Tracy A McFadin.

He faces four felony charges, including: murder, first degree; two counts of armed criminal action; assault, first degree or attempt, serious physical injury or special victim.

According to police records, the Excelsior Springs Police Department (ESPD) received a 911 call on Sept. 7, 2022, from the daughter of Theresa, saying her mother had been shot and claimed the shooter was her estranged husband, Keith Bass.

ESPD Sergeant Bret Rider and Officer Joshua Hyatt arrived at 717 N. Main Street and found Theresa laying on the front porch bleeding profusely. They also located Neal “laying with his feet out of the front door and his body inside the residence. Neal Jr. was bleeding and had a severe injury to the face,” the probable cause statement read. “Theresa’s children were present, and they advised they believed the suspect to be their stepfather, Keith Bass.”

Officers were advised Keith drove a dark colored Jeep Cherokee with the license plate of Bass11. The children told police they were upstairs when they heard the gunshots, then came downstairs and found their mother and Neal lying on the ground bleeding. 

According to the report, Neal, who was conscious, told Officer Joshua Hyatt he “was not sure what had happened.”

Excelsior Springs EMS arrived on the scene and transported both parties to Liberty Hospital. 

Derek Hoskins, 27, Theresa’s son and Robert Hollister, 44, Theresa’s brother arrived on the scene and provided officers with Keith’s cell phone number.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Investigations Support Specialist (ISS) Andrew Warner was advised Theresa had died as a result of gunshot wounds. Additionally, before Neal was taken into emergency surgery, he told Warner that Bass had shot both Theresa and himself, according to records. 

A co-worker of Bass said Keith admitted to killing Theresa to an aide at their workplace

Warner spoke with the aide, who said Keith had disappeared from work, and “Keith advised her that he had killed Theresa and had nothing left to live for. She did not know where Keith may have been,” the records show.

Bobby Neal Jr., 52, of Lawson passed away on March 18. 

“The department will be updating the investigation due to the updated information (of Neal’s death),” said ESPD Lieutenant Ryan Dowdy. “We will present any relevant charges related to this case to the Clay County Prosecutor for review.”

“Our office continually monitors all of the cases we file for any material changes that would impact the charges,” Clay County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Public Information Officer Alexander Higginbotham advised. “However, we do not have a comment at this time regarding whether any changes will be made to the Keith Bass case.”

The Standard will continue ongoing coverage of this case.

GARY W. GILLISPIE II

Gary W Gillispie II appeared in person and in custody, for a docket call recently in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court in Clay County.

The 38-year-old Excelsior Springs resident is charged with one class B felony of trafficking drugs in the second degree. 

Due to good cause shown, Circuit Seven Judge Louis Angles, granted a continuance until May 2 at 9 a.m. According to the complaint and request for a warrant, on or about March 23 in Clay County, the defendant knowingly possessed more than 10 milligrams of fentanyl – a controlled substance, knowing of its presence and nature.

The range for punishment for a class B felony is imprisonment in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for a term of not less than five years and not to exceed fifteen years. 

The Excelsior Springs Standard will continue coverage of this case. 

TIMOTHY M. HASLETT JR.

Timothy M Haslett JR appeared in person and in custody, in front of Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Alisha O’Hara this past Monday.

“I have not had time to go through all of the discoveries from the State. I am requesting a 30 day continuance,” stated Tiffany Leuty, Haslett’s public defender.

Judge O’Hara continued the case until June 6 for a docket call.  

Haslett is charged with a total of nine felonies including the following:

Rape or attempted rape in the first degree, aggravated sexual offense; four counts of sodomy or attempted sodomy in the first degree, aggravated sexual offense; kidnapping – facilitating a felony, inflicting injury and terrorizing, in the first degree; two counts of assault in the second degree; endangering the welfare of a child, creating substantial risk in the first degree and first offense, no sexual conduct.

In early October, police received reports of a woman “banging and screaming on neighboring doors,” in the area of Old Orchard Ave, Lieutenant Ryan Dowdy said at the time of the incident. A full report of this case can be found in the Oct. 14, 2022 edition of The Standard. 

Neighbor Lisa Johnson called 911 after noticing the woman.

“She told me that she was being held and that the person she was being held by lived up the street,” Johnson said in a KCTV 5 interview.   

“It was readily apparent that she was being held against her will for a significant period of time,” Dowdy said in a press conference on Oct. 7. The woman was transported to an area hospital where she was listed in stable condition.  

Excelsior Springs Police Department and Clay County Sheriff’s Department worked together to take Haslett into custody the morning of Oct. 7, with charges being filed by the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office that night.  

The Standard will continue coverage of this ongoing court case.