Cold Case Missing Persons / Homicide Arrest (Camdenton)

 

On June 9th, 2015, detectives arrested David W. Smith of Camdenton who has been charged with the 1st degree murder of Shawn E Spencer stemming from a shooting in April of 2006.

On April 1st, 2006, deputies responded to a report of a shooting at a residence on Silver Mountain Drive in Camdenton.  The deputies were unable to locate the reporting party and after speaking to Smith, who owned the residence and conducting a search of the property, they cleared from the scene determining the call to be unfounded.

In April of 2007, Shawn Spencer’s mother came to the sheriff’s office to report her son missing.  She explained Shawn had been missing for approximately one year, but due to his transient lifestyle, it was not uncommon for him to go missing for extended periods of time.  Shawn was then listed as a missing person, but the case went cold.

In June of 2011, detectives contacted an out of state witness who claimed to have seen David W. Smith shoot Shawn Spencer to death on April 1st, 2006.  Detectives conducted supplemental investigation and in September, applied for and received a search warrant for the property on Silver Mountain Road.  Despite the cooperation of several supporting agencies and the use of cadaver dogs, detectives were unable to locate any remains at the property and Smith denied any involvement in the disappearance of Shawn Spencer and again, without additional evidence, the case went cold.

Last week, another witness came forward and after subsequent investigation, detectives applied for and secured a warrant for Smith’s arrest.  Smith was arrested at his place of employment without incident.  Smith is charged with the Class A Felony of Murder in the First Degree and the Class A Felony of Armed Criminal Action.  He is currently being held without bond in the Camden County Adult Detention Facility.