Jackson County prosecutors charged Monday the live-in boyfriend of a woman found shot to death Sunday in unincorporated Jackson County
John F. Beltz, 24, of the 500 block of South Sunnynook School Road, was charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with one count each of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of 24-year-old Michelle D. Grush, the mother of Beltz’ two small children and his live-in girlfriend.
According to Jackson County Sheriff’s Department officials, Beltz allegedly shot and killed Grush in the home the couple shared southeast of Buckner. Officials said deputies were called about 6:45 a.m. Sunday to the home to investigate a report of shots fired.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they found Grush’s body, which had obvious signs of trauma, according to authorities. The couple’s children were found at the scene, but were not injured. According to officials, Beltz was taken into custody on the scene and questioned about the incident.
The children were placed in the care of Grush’s relatives.
Grush’s uncle Robert Grush and other family members appeared outside of Associate Judge Jeffrey Bushur’s courtroom during Beltz’ arraignment, but left without hearing charges read to the suspect. Robert Grush did, however, speak on his feelings of Beltz, whom Robert Grush described as “emotionless and violent.”
“He needs to be put away for life,” Robert Grush said, adding the couple were parents of a 7-month-old girl and a 18-month-old boy.
Robert Grush said the couple had a troublesome relationship but didn’t know if Michelle Grush was in the process or had ever tried to leave Beltz. Other family members stated Beltz, whom they believed was prone to violence, shot Michelle Grush in the head.
“He shot her in front of the children,” Robert Grush said.
Another relative, Michelle Grush’s aunt Carrie Simsheuser, called Beltz a “loser” before leaving the courthouse without further comment.
Beltz, who left the courthouse without comment, is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center on $500,000 bond. His next court appearance is 1:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in Division 33 of the Jackson County Courthouse.
The shooting is the second domestic-related murder in Eastern Jackson County in the last week in a half.
On Aug. 15, Demetrius R. Harbour, 43, of Independence was charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Lynn A. Kelly, 32, of Independence. According to Sheriff’s Department officials, deputies discovered Kelly dead about 3 p.m. Aug. 14 in a duplex in the 18000 block of Manor Drive, just north of Independence. Harbour, the victim’s boyfriend, was living with Kelly and her two children at the time. Preliminary autopsy results showed the cause of death in that case was blunt force head trauma and manual strangulation.
Harbour is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center on a $250,000 cash-only bond. He is expected to appear in court again Sept. 10.
Kelly’s children, 11 and 13 years old, remain in the care of relatives.
