Boone County authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with a murder investigation straddling the Arkansas and Missouri state line that was initiated in mid-June last year with a missing person’s report.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday, 60-year-old Edward Moncivalles is charged with felony counts of abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and hindering apprehension or prosecution. An address for Moncivalles was not listed on online court documents.
The charges are in connection with the Taney County death of Eric Williamson of Springfield.
On June 30, 2021, Branson resident Rusty Cain Harvey was arrested in Sharp County at a family member’s home. Harvey was found barricaded in a closet in the home with multiple firearms and ammunition, according to a probable cause statement from the Taney County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Williamson’s death.
Harvey told law enforcement he knew Williamson for about 10 years and owed him approximately $21,000. Harvey said Williamson came to his residence in mid-June, where a verbal altercation erupted over the debt.
Harvey said during the altercation, Williamson had a handgun, and he believed he intended to use the weapon to harm him and his family.
Harvey said he shot Williamson with a .22 caliber rifle and moved his body and vehicle to a remote location in Boone County. He then burned the vehicle with the body inside.
Moncivalles was one of four people who witnessed the shooting. Also among the group was Harvey’s then pregnant girlfriend, Natalie Boyles.
Boyles was with Harvey when he was taken into custody in Sharp County near Hardy.
In an interview with Missouri State Highway Patrol, Moncivalles allegedly acknowledged attempts to amputate Williamson’s body. The deceased was ultimately placed in the rear of his vehicle.
He said he followed Harvey to Arkansas in a separate vehicle. He said Harvey drove Williamson’s vehicle into the woods, returning a short time later.
When Harvey got into the vehicle to leave with Moncivalles, he indicated he had burned Williamson’s vehicle with the body inside.
Moncivalles said he could see black smoke coming up from the trees where the vehicle was burning.
Bond for Moncivalles was set at $25,000.
(From KTLO)
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