Two charged in killing of Galena man, Missouri State Highway Patrol says

Logo of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
Logo of the Missouri State Highway Patrol

Troop D of the Missouri State Highway Patrol announced late last week that Stone County prosecutors charged two individuals with felony evidence-tampering, which they say is linked to the Nov. 20 homicide of Billy M. Walker, 58, of Galena.

MSHP said the homicide occurred in Stone County; afterward, the patrol said, Walker's body was found near County Road 187 and Route EE in Dade County. An autopsy later found Walker's death was a homicide.

On Friday, Stone County prosecutors charged Sheila Renee Phillips, 57, and Gerald Keith Hoffman, 54, both from Galena, Missouri, with two counts each of tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

Felony evidence-tampering is a Class-E felony under Missouri law. If convicted, Phillips and Hoffman face a prison term up to four years.

Both Phillips and Hoffman are being held in the Stone County Jail without bond, MSHP said.

Online court records showed that a detention hearing was scheduled for Hoffman on Tuesday afternoon.

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This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State Highway Patrol: Two charged in killing of Galena man