Content warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of violence.
Editor’s note: Because multiple people in this story share the surname Rosson, they are referred to by their first names after their initial identification.
Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens found probable cause Wednesday to advance murder and complicity to first-degree arson charges against the second man charged with murder in connection with Lisa Bebber’s death.
Jason Rosson, 49, appeared for a preliminary hearing in two cases. He was initially charged July 6 with tampering with physical evidence and intimidating a participant in the legal process, then charged three days later with murder and first-degree arson in a separate case.
Bebber was found dead in her home May 20 after a fire at the residence the night before. Jody Smith, 63, of Kirksey, was the first person arrested in connection with her death. In June, Calloway County Sheriff’s Office deputies charged him with first-degree arson and murder.
Smith also faces receiving stolen property and theft by deception charges in a separate but related case involving a truck belonging to Nathan Ham. Hutchens found probable cause in both of Smith’s cases during a June 24 preliminary hearing and bound them over to the grand jury.
Jason’s wife, Kayla Rosson, became the third person arrested in connection with the investigation July 10, when she was charged with two counts of tampering with physical evidence. She made her first appearance in Calloway District Court Tuesday and is scheduled to return for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.
During Jason’s preliminary hearing Wednesday, CCSO Detective Jon-Micheal Ray Hill testified and read portions of a report prepared by Deputy Chandler Sirls, the lead investigator in Bebber’s death investigation.
Hill said investigators believe Smith and the Rossons stole Ham’s truck from Bebber’s property and took it to a scrapyard while Ham was incarcerated at the Calloway County Detention Center. He said they later went to Bebber’s home because they believed she was talking about what happened to the truck.
According to Hill, Kayla told investigators she entered Bebber’s home and saw Jason strangling Bebber while telling her she “needed to be quiet about this.”
Kayla also told investigators Bebber struggled with Jason before Smith struck Bebber in the head with a hammer, Hill testified.
James Mills, Jason’s public defender, asked Hill what physical evidence from Bebber’s autopsy supported the allegation that she was struck in the head with a hammer. Hill said the medical examiner could not rule out either a blow to the head or strangulation.
“There is a fracturing crack you can see in one of the pictures of her skull,” Hill said.
Mills also asked if it was possible Bebber died from smoke inhalation. Hill testified that the medical examiner found no soot in her lungs, indicating she was likely dead before the fire began.
After Hill’s testimony, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen moved to amend Jason’s first-degree arson charge to complicity to first-degree arson. Hutchens granted the motion, found probable cause in both of Jason’s cases and bound them over to the grand jury.
If indicted, Jason and Smith are scheduled to be arraigned in Calloway Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here