McDonald County detectives solve decades old cold case
March 27, 2024
Adriana Keeton, [email protected]
McDonald County Sheriff’s Office detectives investigate the site where “Grace Doe” was found at an abandoned farmouse in McDonald County in 1990. Photo: McDonald County Sheriff’s Office.
McDonald County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Lorie Howard and Rhonda Wise announced during a press conference last week that they have identified a suspect in the October 31, 1990, murder of Shauna Garber.
According to a press release from the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office, on December 2, 1990, human remains were found outside of an abandoned farmhouse located on Oscar Talley Road, in McDonald County.
The McDonald County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted the initial investigation and were unable to identify the remains, which would became known as “Grace Doe” as detectives who continued to work on the case were told that it may be by the Grace of God that her identify would ever be found.
The Sheriff’s Office received several leads between 1990 and 2020, but it wasn’t until 2021 with advancements in DNA technology that the Sheriff’s Office were able to ID “Grace Doe” as Shauna Garber through DNA extraction and a familial match. The investigation continued for three more years after Garber was identified.
“Through statements, sources, witnesses, pounding the ground and driving people absolutely insane for 30 years, we finally have the answers that we need,” said Detective Lorie Howard during the press conference.
Howard stated that Talfey Reeves, who died in November 2021, was a long standing suspect in the case.
“I can tell you that Talfey Reeves was a suspect in this case for years, I just couldn’t get anyone to talk to me on the record, in an affidavit, I couldn’t corroborate their story until years later and I had nobody who had the missing piece until he died,” Howard added.
According to Howard, it is believed that Talfey Reeves picked up Shauna Garber from the Tanglewood/Ginger Blue area of Missouri State Highwway 59. After restraining her, he transported her to an abandoned farmhouse where it is believed that he sexually assaulted her and overdosed her with drugs.
Detectives stated that Reeves had several charges dating back to the 1980’s which included drug trafficking and assault.
According to press release, Shauna’s case has been changed from an open murder case to cleared by exception.
According to a press release from the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office, on December 2, 1990, human remains were found outside of an abandoned farmhouse located on Oscar Talley Road, in McDonald County.
The McDonald County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducted the initial investigation and were unable to identify the remains, which would became known as “Grace Doe” as detectives who continued to work on the case were told that it may be by the Grace of God that her identify would ever be found.
The Sheriff’s Office received several leads between 1990 and 2020, but it wasn’t until 2021 with advancements in DNA technology that the Sheriff’s Office were able to ID “Grace Doe” as Shauna Garber through DNA extraction and a familial match. The investigation continued for three more years after Garber was identified.
“Through statements, sources, witnesses, pounding the ground and driving people absolutely insane for 30 years, we finally have the answers that we need,” said Detective Lorie Howard during the press conference.
Howard stated that Talfey Reeves, who died in November 2021, was a long standing suspect in the case.
“I can tell you that Talfey Reeves was a suspect in this case for years, I just couldn’t get anyone to talk to me on the record, in an affidavit, I couldn’t corroborate their story until years later and I had nobody who had the missing piece until he died,” Howard added.
According to Howard, it is believed that Talfey Reeves picked up Shauna Garber from the Tanglewood/Ginger Blue area of Missouri State Highwway 59. After restraining her, he transported her to an abandoned farmhouse where it is believed that he sexually assaulted her and overdosed her with drugs.
Detectives stated that Reeves had several charges dating back to the 1980’s which included drug trafficking and assault.
According to press release, Shauna’s case has been changed from an open murder case to cleared by exception.
