It was a CrimeStoppers tip that led to the arrest of three people for the killing of Johnny Evans.
The tip earned an anonymous person $1,000 and led to three arrests: Charles Thompson, 17, St. Louis; Vincent Smith, 25, Jefferson City; and Robert Burks, 23, Jefferson City. All were charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Thompson and Smith also were charged with armed criminal action.
"When we can give out a reward, it's been a good day," said Janet Ousley, CrimeStoppers board president. "We can help the community, we can help law enforcement, and we can put the bad guy away."
A 12-member volunteer board governs the local CrimeStoppers program, which started in Jefferson City around 1973. As president, Ousley has the discretion to quickly set a reward, when needed.
"After the crime happened, Sgt. Joe Matherne called me and said, "Janet, we have no leads on this shooting on east High Street. I would like to offer a $500 reward.'
"I said, "I don't think $500 is enough. We need to up that to $1,000.'"
That's the highest amount allowed for a felony under the programs bylaws.
Ousley detailed how the program works:
After a reward has been set, anyone with information can either go online to www.jeffcitycrimestoppers.com or call 659-TIPS. Either way is anonymous.
When people call, the call goes to the Jefferson City Police Department's communications center, where callers leave their tips and their phone numbers.
If the tip leads to an arrest, someone at the department calls the tipster and gives them a number. The tipster then takes that number to a local bank, where - either inside or in the drive-thru - the person informs the teller of their client number. The tellers are alerted to expect the person, and they hand the tipster an envelope containing cash.
"We do our due diligence in keeping the complete anonymity of the tipsters," Ousley said.
She said CrimeStoppers currently have three ongoing reward offers: $500? for a construction site theft, $500? for a Bee Line Snack Shop burglary and $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in the disappearance of Jasmine Haslag.