RAY COUNTY, Mo. -
Two men and one woman were charged Friday in the kidnapping and murder of Carol Thomas and one of the suspects told police it was because Thomas sold them rock salt disguised as drugs. Thomas' body was found in a field on Thursday and police said that she had been shot twice.
James Reardon, 21, was charged with first degree murder, armed criminal action and kidnapping charges; while Erik Zimmerman, 29 of Excelsior Springs; and Jennifer Saling, 21 of Holt were charged with second degree murder, armed criminal action and felony kidnapping. Reardon has no known previous address. A fourth person of interest has been released after giving police witness information. Bond for all three suspects was set at $1 million each. All three were taken to Clay County Jail after being held in Excelsior Springs.
Zimmerman confessed to police that he, Reardon and Saling kidnapped Thomas and were involved in her killing. Zimmerman told police that he paid Thomas $500 for drugs with Reardon's money. The drugs turned out to be rock salt and that the three abducted Thomas on Wednesday evening.
Witnesses said they saw the attack and saw three people put Thomas in the trunk of a red Pontiac Grand Am Wednesday night. Police also found a stun gun at that location. Witnesses also said they saw some items fall out of one of the suspect's pockets during the struggle. One of the witnesses collected the items to give to police, which included two cell phones and what appeared to be a stun gun.
Zimmerman told police in the probable cause statement that he, Reardon and Saling were all in the vehicle with Thomas in the trunk and started to drive in the direction of Missouri City. They called a friend to bring them gas and Saling left with that friend. Zimmerman told police that Reardon drove the car off the road into a field and that Thomas was yelling and kicking the trunk. Zimmerman said at one point Thomas kicked out the back seat.
Zimmerman told police that when they pulled into the field, Reardon took Thomas out of the trunk. Zimmerman said Reardon shot Thomas twice in the head before he "flung" her out of sight over a hill.
Zimmerman said when they left the field, Reardon called Saling and told her to meet them. When Saling arrived, Zimmerman said Reardon set the vehicle on fire and they returned to a home where Zimmerman said he went to sleep and did not see what Reardon did with the gun.
Saling refused to speak to police and said she knew nothing about the incident. Court documents show that Reardon said he knew nothing about the incident, but did admit that the cell phones collected by police from the street were his and that Thomas had stolen them from him.
Police found the body of Thomas, 23, in rural Ray County on Thursday afternoon afternoon after a farmer saw a vehicle leaving a field late Wednesday night and notified police. Police began their search of that field on Thursday and located Thomas' body. An autopsy is planned for Saturday.
Lt. Clint Reno of Excelsior Springs Police said the three were arrested at a home in Clay County within 12 hours once police were involved.
On Thursday, police surrounded the home north of Lawson where a landlord reported suspicious activity. The landlord of the home told FOX 4 News that one of the three suspects admitted they had killed Thomas. Police said one of the men has a vehicle that matches the red car found in Lawson.
The car was found in Lawson, Mo. on Thursday.
An ex-boyfriend of Thomas' said she had planned to get a ride to Kansas City to visit him Wednesday night, however she never made it, and he hadn't heard from her since Wednesday evening.
Thomas Sullivan, Thomas' former boyfriend, told FOX 4 News that Thomas sounded nervous on the phone shortly before she disappeared.
"When I talked to her, she said there was something she needed to talk to me about ," said Sullivan. "She couldn't tell me on the phone."
James Reardon, 21, was charged with first degree murder, armed criminal action and kidnapping charges; while Erik Zimmerman, 29 of Excelsior Springs; and Jennifer Saling, 21 of Holt were charged with second degree murder, armed criminal action and felony kidnapping. Reardon has no known previous address. A fourth person of interest has been released after giving police witness information. Bond for all three suspects was set at $1 million each. All three were taken to Clay County Jail after being held in Excelsior Springs.
Zimmerman confessed to police that he, Reardon and Saling kidnapped Thomas and were involved in her killing. Zimmerman told police that he paid Thomas $500 for drugs with Reardon's money. The drugs turned out to be rock salt and that the three abducted Thomas on Wednesday evening.
Witnesses said they saw the attack and saw three people put Thomas in the trunk of a red Pontiac Grand Am Wednesday night. Police also found a stun gun at that location. Witnesses also said they saw some items fall out of one of the suspect's pockets during the struggle. One of the witnesses collected the items to give to police, which included two cell phones and what appeared to be a stun gun.
Zimmerman told police in the probable cause statement that he, Reardon and Saling were all in the vehicle with Thomas in the trunk and started to drive in the direction of Missouri City. They called a friend to bring them gas and Saling left with that friend. Zimmerman told police that Reardon drove the car off the road into a field and that Thomas was yelling and kicking the trunk. Zimmerman said at one point Thomas kicked out the back seat.
Zimmerman told police that when they pulled into the field, Reardon took Thomas out of the trunk. Zimmerman said Reardon shot Thomas twice in the head before he "flung" her out of sight over a hill.
Zimmerman said when they left the field, Reardon called Saling and told her to meet them. When Saling arrived, Zimmerman said Reardon set the vehicle on fire and they returned to a home where Zimmerman said he went to sleep and did not see what Reardon did with the gun.
Saling refused to speak to police and said she knew nothing about the incident. Court documents show that Reardon said he knew nothing about the incident, but did admit that the cell phones collected by police from the street were his and that Thomas had stolen them from him.
Police found the body of Thomas, 23, in rural Ray County on Thursday afternoon afternoon after a farmer saw a vehicle leaving a field late Wednesday night and notified police. Police began their search of that field on Thursday and located Thomas' body. An autopsy is planned for Saturday.
Lt. Clint Reno of Excelsior Springs Police said the three were arrested at a home in Clay County within 12 hours once police were involved.
On Thursday, police surrounded the home north of Lawson where a landlord reported suspicious activity. The landlord of the home told FOX 4 News that one of the three suspects admitted they had killed Thomas. Police said one of the men has a vehicle that matches the red car found in Lawson.
The car was found in Lawson, Mo. on Thursday.
An ex-boyfriend of Thomas' said she had planned to get a ride to Kansas City to visit him Wednesday night, however she never made it, and he hadn't heard from her since Wednesday evening.
Thomas Sullivan, Thomas' former boyfriend, told FOX 4 News that Thomas sounded nervous on the phone shortly before she disappeared.
"When I talked to her, she said there was something she needed to talk to me about ," said Sullivan. "She couldn't tell me on the phone."
