Holts Summit murder investigation continues

Victim was retired Jefferson City police officer

Authorities on Sunday continued to follow leads in the apparent homicide of Holts Summit resident Paul Plunkett.

Plunkett, 52, was a retired Jefferson City police officer who operated a Bias Pest Control Co. from his home at 283 Major Terrace.

Police responded to a call from his wife, Sandra, about 12:49 p.m. Saturday. She said she was outside the home and saw a man who was wearing camouflage and had a gun. She said he was standing in the road near their home and pointed the gun at her before fleeing on foot.

Inside, she found her husband had been shot toward one side of the back of his head. He was taken to the landing zone to be flown by helicopter to University Hospital, but medics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Holts Summit Police Chief Kyle McIntyre said no one is in custody and they haven't named anyone as a suspect. The Missouri Highway Patrol, Callaway County Sheriff's Department and the Jefferson City Police Department are all helping with the investigation.

"We're kind of stuck in a holding pattern right now, following up on leads," McIntyre said.

Although no arrests had been made as of Sunday evening, McIntyre said he doesn't believe the public is in danger.

"Obviously, there's a killer on the loose because we haven't caught him yet," McIntyre said. "But I don't think this was a random act. I think that Paul was targeted. It wasn't a burglary or anything like that. There was no forced entry."

He said Plunkett hadn't been working much with his pest control business lately because he was at home recovering from a recent surgery.