Police still investigating woman's December death

Police are still investigating the death of a Sedalia woman in December.

Sgt. Adam Hendricks said Tuesday the Monica Clark death investigation remains open.

“We still have some leads that could develop,” Hendricks said.

Clark, 34, died Dec. 3, from a traumatic brain injury. Her husband, Travis, found her in the front seat of her car after she had left for work that day.

The car struck a neighbor’s garage, but Pettis County Coroner Robert Smith said the accident couldn’t have caused the injury.

After interviewing more than 15 “people of interest” in the case, Travis Clark remains the sole person of interest, Hendricks said. Clark’s answers don’t match the possibilities of what could have happened, Hendricks said.

“We’re not satisfied with any answers he’s given us,” he said. “And, of course, he was there with her (when she died).”
A person of interest is someone police think could have information about the death, Hendricks said.

Travis Clark said he thinks the investigation is “a load of crap.”

“I’ve cooperated with the police as much as I could,” he said.

Clark said he provided cell phones and his home computer for officers, but declined a voice stress analysis upon the advice of an attorney and family.

The Clarks were married for 11 years and have two children together. He said officers likely think he is a suspect in his wife’s death because of her infidelity. But, Clark said he didn’t know about his wife’s affairs until after she died.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, and it’s not my job to prove I didn’t do anything wrong. I’d just like some closure. ... There is a lot of unanswered questions. I just know that I’ve done nothing wrong,” he said.

Clark said he believes his wife’s death had to do with her use of “whippets,” nitrous oxide packaged in small canisters. Nitrous oxide is used as a propellant for whipped cream and has other culinary uses. It is also used as an anesthetic.
Smith said “drugs were not in any way related to her death.”

“What caused her death was trauma to the head,” Smith said Tuesday.

Police are still calling Monica Clark’s manner of death “undetermined,” Hendricks said. They are trying to figure out whether she was the victim of homicide.

Clark said he has been subject to pointing and whispering by people in grocery stores.

“People think I’ve killed my wife, and that’s the furthest thing from the truth,” he said.