Sedalia chief: No police response to 911 call from slain woman's home

Sedalia Police officers failed to respond to a 911 call made from the home of a Sedalia woman who was found dead early Sept. 7.

According to Sedalia Police Chief John DeGonia, the department did receive a 911 call from the home of Rebekah Marcus at 6:22 a.m. Officers did not hear anything on the other end of the line, according to DeGonia. At the same time, the dispatch officer received another 911 call of a burglary in progress at a local law office. DeGonia said officers responded to the burglary call and were not dispatched to the 911 call from the Marcus home.

Marcus, 76, was found dead at her home at 1008 Royal Blvd. by Barbara Haines, a home health care worker, shortly before 8 a.m. According to the autopsy results, Marcus died from blunt force trauma to the head, stab wounds and strangulation.

Investigations done by the department and the Rural Missouri Major Case Squad led officers to believe that Marcus had already been killed by the time the call was made, DeGonia said.

“We believe the 911 phone call did not come from her,” he said.

According to the probable cause statement written by Det. Sgt. Tolbert Rowe, Marcus's garage door was found open, which was unusual. Haines found Marcus lying on the floor of her home and ran from the home screaming. Neighbor Paul Bennett called 911.

At the scene, investigators found a lower level window on the back side of the home was removed, along with the frame, and leaned against the outside wall. The front and back doors of the home were locked.

In the kitchen area of the home, officers found what appeared to be black and red scuff marks on the floor.

On Sept. 8, investigators searched the neighborhood near the Marcus home and found a gold Chevrolet Trail Blazer parked in the driveway of Marcus' home and a Marlboro brand cigarette butt.

Investigators noticed a "Gamblers Anonymous" book laying in plain view on the dash of the vehicle. They learned the vehicle belonged to Daniel Maschger, according to the statement.

Maschger was across the street at the home of Bennett at the time. He told investigators that he knew Marcus for the past 17 years and she referred to him as her son. He went on to tell investigators that he worked at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday at the FairFax General Motors Plant in Kansas City, Kan. Investigators contacted the plant and learned that Maschger had called in Sept. 7 and 8 due to a death in the family. He had called in before Marcus’ body was found, according to the statement.

On Sept. 9, officers spoke with Bennett’s wife, Judy Bennett, who said at 5:30 a.m. Sept. 7, she saw a gold-colored sport utility vehicle parked across the street in front of Marcus' home as she was leaving for work.

According to Judy Bennett, Maschger called her and asked if she had any news about the status of the investigation. Judy Bennett said Maschger had commented in the past to her that he was to get the house and property after Marcus’ death. She went on to say that she believed that Maschger made a statement to her that he believed that Marcus had money and valuables in her home.

Cell phone records traced Maschger’s trip from Lee’s Summit to Sedalia and back as he made phone calls along the way at various times, according to the probable cause statement.

During a search of his home in Lee’s Summit, investigators found a pair of black men’s shoes with red rubber trim and a pack of Marlboro cigarettes that matched the butt found near Marcus’ home. Investigators also found a pair of blue jeans in a plastic bag in a trash can.

The jeans reacted to a light source confirming the presence of blood, according to the statement.

Maschger, 44, was arrested at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 9 at this home in Lee’s Summit. He was transported to the Pettis County Jail and charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and burglary.

Maschger will have his first hearing at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Pettis County Circuit Court.

Funeral services for Marcus will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Rea Funeral Chapel. Pastor Reed Lange and Rabi Shmuel Wolkenfeld will officiate.

Kim Lange, a friend of Marcus and pastor at W.A.T.E.R. Ministries Church, said Marcus did not have life insurance. She is organizing Marcus’ funeral and burial. People can make a memorial contribution by contacting Rea Funeral Home, 1001 S. Limit Ave. or by calling 826-4732.