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Suspect dead after shooting ex-wife outside home on Tanya Lynn Drive
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By Jeff Haldiman
jhaldiman@newstribune.com
A Jefferson City man apparently killed himself after being charged Monday night with murdering his ex-wife.
Cole County Sheriff's Chief Deputy John Wheeler said Tuesday morning that James Ahart, 44, died at his apartment, 4627 Shepherd Hills Rd.
The Highway Patrol's SWAT Team found the body at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday in a bedroom.
The cause of death is under investigation, but believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The time of death had not been determined by mid-morning.
“No one had heard a gunshot,” said Sgt. Paul Reinsch, the patrol's Troop F Information officer.
Troopers went into the apartment after a robot with a TV camera had been sent in to check out the apartment.
Reinsch said the robot and the SWAT team entered the apartment several hours after tear gas had been used in an unsuccessful attempt to get Ahart to come outside.
Ahart was charged Monday night with first-degree murder after reportedly shooting his ex-wife, Cynthia Ahart, 46, following a domestic disturbance at her home, 926 Tanya Lynn.
According to the Jefferson City Police Department's probable cause statement, the murder occurred around 8:20 p.m. Monday.
When officers arrived at the home on Tanya Lynn, they found the victim's sister performing CPR on Cynthia Ahart.
The sister, Pamela Kliegel, said James Ahart had been “circling” the victim and herself while they were at a cosmetics sales party on Northeast Drive prior to coming to Cynthia's residence on Tanya Lynn, the statement said.
Cynthia Ahart was killed in her front yard.
Kliegel identified the shooter as James Ahart and told officers he had shot Cynthia in the head. She further stated that James had to make more than one attempt to get the pistol to fire at the victim.
Numerous witnesses said James had to work the slide of the weapon many times to get it to discharge.
The final shot was fired into the victim's head after James had circled the victim, who was on the ground in front of her home.
Cynthia Ahart was pronounced dead at the scene by Cole County Medical Examiner Carl Doerhoff.
After the incident occurred, neighbors and friends poured onto the street. Many were weeping and hugging each other to try and console one another.
Traffic onto Tanya Lynn from Tower Drive was blocked while authorities searched the scene for clues. The Jefferson City Fire Department was called to bring in a light truck to help illuminate the area.
Meanwhile, James Ahart went back to his home in the Southern Hills Apartments.
Around 9 p.m., authorities arrived there and said Ahart barricaded himself inside. They believed he had a handgun, rifle and shotgun with him.
The Cole County Sheriff's Department, Jefferson City Police Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol all reported to the complex.
Negotiators also were brought in to try and talk Ahart out of the apartment while parts of the complex were evacuated to make sure residents were safe.
The last contact authorities had with Ahart was around 11:30 p.m. Monday.
The Jefferson City Police SWAT Team formed outside the apartment about midnight, and was replaced by the patrol's team about 5 a.m.
The Jefferson City team just last week had drilled on a similar scenario to Monday night's real case.
Sheriff Greg White said Tuesday: “One of the things we proved last night was that cooperation among the law enforcement agencies makes it easier for all of us.
“The agency heads routinely meet and discuss issues like the fluidity of command. That got put to the test (last night) and it worked extremely well.”
White also praised the assistance provided by the Capitol and Rolla police departments and the American Red Cross' Cole County chapter.
Cynthia Ahart's death was the first murder inside Jefferson City in 2007, and the second killing in Cole County in three days.
She had worked the last five years as a graphics artist at the Missouri Farm Bureau.
Her boss there, Estil Fretwell, said Tuesday, “Cindy was a great gal. She was the kind of person who always looked for good in other people.”
Cole County Sheriff's Chief Deputy John Wheeler said Tuesday morning that James Ahart, 44, died at his apartment, 4627 Shepherd Hills Rd.
The Highway Patrol's SWAT Team found the body at 8:20 a.m. Tuesday in a bedroom.
The cause of death is under investigation, but believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The time of death had not been determined by mid-morning.
“No one had heard a gunshot,” said Sgt. Paul Reinsch, the patrol's Troop F Information officer.
Troopers went into the apartment after a robot with a TV camera had been sent in to check out the apartment.
Reinsch said the robot and the SWAT team entered the apartment several hours after tear gas had been used in an unsuccessful attempt to get Ahart to come outside.
Ahart was charged Monday night with first-degree murder after reportedly shooting his ex-wife, Cynthia Ahart, 46, following a domestic disturbance at her home, 926 Tanya Lynn.
According to the Jefferson City Police Department's probable cause statement, the murder occurred around 8:20 p.m. Monday.
When officers arrived at the home on Tanya Lynn, they found the victim's sister performing CPR on Cynthia Ahart.
The sister, Pamela Kliegel, said James Ahart had been “circling” the victim and herself while they were at a cosmetics sales party on Northeast Drive prior to coming to Cynthia's residence on Tanya Lynn, the statement said.
Cynthia Ahart was killed in her front yard.
Kliegel identified the shooter as James Ahart and told officers he had shot Cynthia in the head. She further stated that James had to make more than one attempt to get the pistol to fire at the victim.
Numerous witnesses said James had to work the slide of the weapon many times to get it to discharge.
The final shot was fired into the victim's head after James had circled the victim, who was on the ground in front of her home.
Cynthia Ahart was pronounced dead at the scene by Cole County Medical Examiner Carl Doerhoff.
After the incident occurred, neighbors and friends poured onto the street. Many were weeping and hugging each other to try and console one another.
Traffic onto Tanya Lynn from Tower Drive was blocked while authorities searched the scene for clues. The Jefferson City Fire Department was called to bring in a light truck to help illuminate the area.
Meanwhile, James Ahart went back to his home in the Southern Hills Apartments.
Around 9 p.m., authorities arrived there and said Ahart barricaded himself inside. They believed he had a handgun, rifle and shotgun with him.
The Cole County Sheriff's Department, Jefferson City Police Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol all reported to the complex.
Negotiators also were brought in to try and talk Ahart out of the apartment while parts of the complex were evacuated to make sure residents were safe.
The last contact authorities had with Ahart was around 11:30 p.m. Monday.
The Jefferson City Police SWAT Team formed outside the apartment about midnight, and was replaced by the patrol's team about 5 a.m.
The Jefferson City team just last week had drilled on a similar scenario to Monday night's real case.
Sheriff Greg White said Tuesday: “One of the things we proved last night was that cooperation among the law enforcement agencies makes it easier for all of us.
“The agency heads routinely meet and discuss issues like the fluidity of command. That got put to the test (last night) and it worked extremely well.”
White also praised the assistance provided by the Capitol and Rolla police departments and the American Red Cross' Cole County chapter.
Cynthia Ahart's death was the first murder inside Jefferson City in 2007, and the second killing in Cole County in three days.
She had worked the last five years as a graphics artist at the Missouri Farm Bureau.
Her boss there, Estil Fretwell, said Tuesday, “Cindy was a great gal. She was the kind of person who always looked for good in other people.”
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iwdnp wrote on Aug 15, 2007 5:07 PM: