Keith Bass II appeared in front of Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Shane T. Alexander for a trial setting hearing on June 1. 

Bass appeared in custody with his public defender, Tracy McFadin, in the case of the alleged murder of Theresa Bass, 44, and the attempted murder of Bobby Neal Jr., who succumbed to his injuries on March 18.

“There may be an amendment to the charge due to the coroner report that I just received. I am requesting a two week continuance for this reason,” stated McFadin.

Clay County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Creagar had no objections to the request. 

Judge Alexander agreed to a continuance and the case will be heard for trial setting on June 15 at 9 a.m.

According to police records, the Excelsior Springs Police Department (ESPD) received a 911 call on September 7, 2022, from the daughter of Theresa, saying her mother had been shot and claimed the shooter was the victim’s 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 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 transported both parties to Liberty Hospital.  

Theresa’s son and 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 Excelsior Springs Standard will continue ongoing coverage of this case.