A Missouri woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of children after she left a group of children alone in a home last month and one of them fatally shot another one.
Jo Timmons, 37, faces five counts, KMIZ reported. She is being held without bond in the Randolph County jail. One of the counts involves causing a death.
According to a probable cause statement, police were called on January 18 for an 11-year-old with a gunshot wound. The child was taken to a hospital and later died.
Timmons reportedly told authorities that she left three children alone that day — a 10-year-old and two 7-year-olds — while she went to retrieve a paycheck. Apparently, however, an 11-year-old and a 12-year-old were also at the home.
Timmons said she’d gotten a phone call from the children that a vehicle they didn’t know pulled into the driveway, followed a few minutes later by another call from a girl who said she’d shot someone, the heavily redacted court document says.
The children told investigators that an unknown vehicle did pull into the driveway, and they hid in Timmons’ bedroom. One of the children reportedly grabbed a handgun, which “accidentally” went off, the statement says.
One of the children knew enough to tell investigators that the gun’s safety was on, but they didn’t know there was a bullet in the chamber.
The 12-year-old reportedly helped deputies locate the handgun in a dresser drawer.
Deputies found living conditions at the home poor, noting the smell of feces and urine throughout and trash, including loose pills and used condoms. They also noted a roach-infested shotgun on the wall of Timmons’ bedroom, and witnesses said the handgun was “not always kept secure.”
It’s not at all clear how many children actually lived in the home, who they belonged to, or who the unknown vehicle belonged to.
“All I can really probably say at this time is that there either have been or were several children residing in this home,” Randolph County Prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford said.
Deputies noted poor living conditions for the children, including smell of feces and urine being persistent throughout the home, as well as various trash, including loose pills and used condoms, being found.
A cockroach-infested shotgun was also found on the wall of Timmons’ bedroom, the deputy wrote. Interviewers with witnesses also claimed the handgun was “not always kept secure,” court documents say.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Jo Timmons/Randolph County Sheriff’s Office]