Photo: Linda Lafee
A Boone County woman, 61-year-old Linda Lafee of Omaha, has been charged with first-degree murder following a shooting earlier this week in the Omaha community.
Boone County Sheriff Tim Roberson says the charge follows his department receiving a call about 10 Monday morning of a motorist involved in a single-vehicle accident on College Street near the Omaha School. The caller reported the driver was unresponsive.
Near the same time, a call was received involving a domestic assault at the Richard and Linda Lafee residence on the same street. Sixty-one-year-old Linda Lafee reported an assault had taken place between her and her husband in which a gunshot was fired.
Officers arriving on scene of the accident reported the driver, 63-year-old Richard Lafee, was deceased. It was discovered Richard Lafee had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers responding to the residence where the disturbance call took place discovered Linda Lafee giving statements implicating her own involvement in the disturbance and knowledge of the shooting. Although she did not show any visible signs of injury, Linda Lafee was transported to Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, where she received treatment for an undisclosed medical issue.
Officers also found 55-year-old Michael Dean Watson was present in the home. Due to an outstanding warrant for Watson’s arrest, he was taken into custody.
Photo: Michael Watson
Sheriff Roberson says investigators believe Linda Lafee unjustifiably shot her husband multiple times while in the home. Richard Lafee left in his vehicle in an apparent attempt to seek help, but succumbed to the gunshot wounds before he was able to get any medical assistance.
Statements from Linda Lafee and Michael Watson regarding their involvement in the case were quickly discredited, based on physical evidence and statements obtained. The motive for the incident appears to revolve around a history of relationship conflicts escalated to this shooting.
Linda Lafee has been released from the hospital and was taken into custody by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department and charged with first-degree murder. The Boone County Sheriff’s Department online jail log indicates she has been extradited to Arkansas.
Due to Watson’s fabricated story to law enforcement and failure to provide help to the victim, he has been charged with felony hindering apprehension or prosecution and remains in custody at the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Roberson expressed his appreciation to the Greene County Sheriff’s Department for its assistance with the Boone County Sheriff’s Department with security measures at the hospital while the suspect was being treated and then taken into custody.
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