On Feb. 22, Sedalia officers responded to the 700 block of East 17th about a subject who was lying in the street.

Upon arrival, patrol officers discovered 45-year-old Robert George Fox, Jr., who had died from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. On Feb. 24 an autopsy was conducted and confirmed the victim died from a gunshot wound.

The Sedalia Police Criminal Investigations Bureau responded to the scene and began processing the crime scene with the assistance of Patrol Officers. With very limited information available at the scene investigators began developing leads and working the case.

Detectives were able to establish that money was owed to a subject in the Kansas City Kansas area stemming from illegal activity. Through the investigation detectives also found that prior to the incident; the victim was in a vehicle parked on east 17th street when an altercation occurred.

During the altercation the victim was shot once in the chest. The victim was able to get out of the vehicle before the vehicle fled the scene.

Evidence on scene led officers to a subject who also lived in the Kansas City Kansas area. By utilizing law enforcement investigative resources detectives were able to track the suspect vehicle to Sedalia prior to the homicide and back to Kansas City, Kansas area after the incident which provided additional leads in the case.

With the assistance of the Career Criminal Task Force that operates in the greater Kansas City Metro area the suspect vehicle was located in Mission, Kansas on the evening of Feb. 25.

Detectives from the Sedalia Criminal Investigations Bureau responded to Kansas to interview additional witnesses. A suspect was developed and apprehended in Overland Park, Kansas.

The suspect was arrested without incident and the Pettis County Prosecutor Phillip Sawyer charged Daniel Fernandez of Kansas City, Kansas with the following counts.

Murder 2nd Degree
Armed Criminal Action
Kidnapping 2nd Degree
Unlawful Use of a weapon

A warrant was issued for Joshua D. Rankin of Kansas City, Kansas with the following counts:

Murder 2nd Degree
Armed Criminal Action
Kidnapping 2nd Degree
Unlawful Use of a weapon

Rankin is being held on a no-bond warrant pending extradition to Pettis County.

The Sedalia Police Department will continue to investigate this homicide and locate all the individuals responsible for the murder of Robert Fox. Investigators will continue to follow up on leads, witnesses, and/or make additional arrests.

Anyone with information about the investigation is encouraged to contact Criminal Investigations Bureau and/or Detective John Fellows at 660-827-7812 ext. 1247.

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