Slayings put Cole Camp under microscope

COLE CAMP — Residents of Cole Camp are reeling from the triple homicide that has put the community under the spotlight of state law enforcement agencies and media from across the region.

Authorities announced last week the bodies of Taron D. Luetjen, 15, and her two grandparents, Donald R. Luetjen, 64, and Sharon K. Luetjen, 61, were found Tuesday in their home on West Elm Street, across from Water Tower Park. The Luetjens each died of a gunshot wound, and authorities are investigating the case as a triple homicide.

In a press conference Thursday, Cole Camp Police Chief Storm Walker said the triple homicide case marked the first such investigation to occur in the community’s 170-year history.

“You know that something like this could happen anywhere, but we never thought it would be somebody from here,” said 15-year-old Samantha Mittlestadt, a classmate of Taron’s.

Beverly Henning, a volunteer at the Cole Camp Museum which houses Donald Luetjen’s collection of Civil War and Native American artifacts, said while the museum was quiet Friday, it had more visitors in the past few days than in weeks leading up to the slayings.

Henning had known the Luetjens her whole life, and she was shocked by the news of their deaths. Henning said she received calls Tuesday from friends across the country who had heard about the slayings. She and her husband live just outside Cole Camp in Benton County, but when they heard of the deaths Tuesday they drove into town to see what was happening.

“Knowing it was going to be history in Cole Camp, we just wanted to see what we could,” Henning said.

What they saw was a swarm of law enforcement officers, patrol cars, reporters and television satellite trucks lined up around the block near the Luetjens’ home. Unprecedented media and police presence was a constant fixture in the community of just more than 1,000 people throughout the week.

Television news crews from Springfield, Kansas City and Columbia monitored announcements released from the 30 officers from 15 agencies investigating the case out of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, across the street from the crime scene.

“I’ve never seen that here before, and I never thought I would,” said Matthew Heimsoth, who works at Cole Camp Auto Parts on Main Street. “This is the biggest thing to happen here in a long time.”

Heimsoth has noticed quieter streets in Cole Camp after the announcement of the homicides. He said the case has been a common topic of conversation in the town, and he has seen fewer children and families out on the street since the discovery of the bodies.

Those who did come out to Water Tower Park to hear the latest updates on the case were often swarmed by reporters seeking to speak with residents who knew the Luetjens or gauge the mood of the community.

Walker posited Thursday that as many members of the media were investigating the case as law enforcement officers. He asked reporters to provide police with any leads they may have heard in their conversations with people in the community, and urged residents to come forward with any information — even if they have already discussed it with reporters.

“We’re getting lots of information and following many leads,” Walker said. “Even if what you know seems small, your little piece of information could help us put something bigger together.”

Sgt. Scott Meyer, public information officer with Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop A, said the cooperation between media and law enforcement has helped officers develop leads and make progress in the investigation.

“It does help having the media here,” Meyer said. “It’s best that information come from one source. We don’t want speculation or false rumors out here.”

Meyer said media and law enforcement need to work together to help solve the case and bring closure to the Luetjen family and Cole Camp community.

With the disruption brought on by the significant media and police presence in Cole Camp, residents are eager to have the case resolved so the town can return to normal.

“Everybody seems anxious. We just want to know what happened,” said Peggy Smith, who watched her grandsons play on the slides Friday in Water Tower Park.

Smith said that while the attention generated by the slayings has been somewhat intrusive, she thinks most people understand police and media members are just trying to do their job. She expects things will gradually return to normal in Cole Camp once police catch the person or people who committed the crimes.

“You wouldn’t want to live every day like this,” Smith said. “But gradually, life will go on. It is up to God, and God has reasons for everything.”

“It will certainly leave a mark on our community,” Henning said. “As time passes and life goes on, it will hopefully just be something tragic that we remember.”

INVESTIGATION UPDATE

• According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Web site, www.mshp.dps.mo.gov, there is no new information regarding the triple homicide in Cole Camp. A new release did state that through June 20, Sergeant Jason Clark will be the contact officer for the case. Clark was not available for comment Saturday.

• Authorities continued the investigation over the weekend and are asking the public for help. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cole Camp Police Department at 660-668-2321, the Benton County Sheriff’s Department at 660-438-5252 or the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop A Headquarters at 816-622-0800.