Eerily Calm (Bobbie Jo Stinnett)
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Who are the hosts of Anatomy of Murder?
I'm Scott Weinberger, investigative journalist and former deputy sheriff.
I'm Anastasia Nicolazzi, former New York City homicide prosecutor and host of Investigation Discovery's True Conviction.
And this is Anatomy of Murph.
Before we begin, we just wanted to let you know that today's story includes some particularly disturbing content and graphic details.
What happened to Bobbie Jo Stinnett?
As we've endeavored to do in the past, our aim in telling this story is to pay respect to the victim, her family, and the outstanding investigative work of local law enforcement, and not to focus solely on the horrifying details of the murder itself or the person responsible.
With a population of less than 300, Skidmore, Missouri is what you might imagine when you hear the words Small Town, USA.
Located about 100 miles north of Kansas City, this small farming community in the heartland is not the bustling hub of opportunity that many young people seek when they're heading out on their own. But for 23-year-old Bobby Joe Stinnett, it was home. Here's former sheriff and retired detective Randy Strong, who was assigned to the major K-Squad in northwest Missouri back in 2004.
Bobby Joe was a local girl. She was eight months pregnant, expecting her first child. She had married Zeb Stennett just less than two years earlier. They lived there. That was her first place.
Along with preparing for the arrival of their first child, Bobby Joe was also the proud proprietor of Happy Haven Farms, a dog breeding business she and Zeb ran from home that specialized in rat terriers.
They were just two young married individuals that were getting ready to start their family and by all accounts were really good people.
On the morning of December 16th, 2004, Zeb Stinnett left for work early like he always did to drive the two hours to his factory job across the border in Kansas.
He worked at Kawasaki factory here in Maryville. There's not a lot of jobs in Skidmore for anybody. So a lot of the people at work, if they're not in the farm industry, they come to Maryville or elsewhere to go to work.
With their first baby on the way, a daughter, Bobbie Jo, sometimes worried that if she went into labor or there was some type of emergency, Zeb wouldn't make it back in time. But thankfully, Bobbie Jo's mother lived nearby and had always promised to be just a phone call away.
Bobbie Jo and her mom were close. And in fact, that day, her mom had called her to confirm plans for Bobbie Jo to pick her up after work at 3.30 p.m.
Bobbie Jo assured her mom that she would be there and then said that she had to jump off the phone because someone had arrived at the house who was interested in buying a puppy.
But after her mom finished her shift, there was no sign of Bobbie Jo. Her mom called up to the house, but there was no answer. She left a message on the machine that she would just walk the few blocks to her daughter's house.
But as she approached, she noticed that despite the cold winter afternoon, the front door of the small craftsman-style house was wide open. And when she called out to Bobby Joe, there was no answer.
As her mom entered the home, she was subjected to a horror that no person, especially a parent, should ever have to face.
She found her daughter lying on the floor of a small back bedroom. There was a lot of blood. As she rushed to her daughter's side, it was difficult to understand exactly what she was seeing. But it appeared that Bobby Joe had suffered a catastrophic injury to her abdomen.
How did investigators first respond to the crime scene?
Somehow, between trying to staunch the wound and attempting CPR, Bobby Joe's mom frantically dials 911.
Out of respect for Bobbie Jo and her family, we've chosen not to play the recording of that call, as it is particularly graphic and distressing. Randy Strong, who was at the police station that afternoon, was there when first responders were dispatched to the scene.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Who are the hosts of Anatomy of Murder?
0:25–0:52
2
What happened to Bobbie Jo Stinnett?
0:52–4:14
3
How did investigators first respond to the crime scene?
4:14–8:47
4
Why was the Amber Alert initially denied?
8:47–12:59
5
How did investigators identify the suspect, Lisa Montgomery?
12:59–17:34
6
What led investigators to the Montgomery residence?
17:34–51:09