On the morning of July 11, 2018, Jefferson County deputies responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots at a home on Eastview Drive in Cedar Hill Lakes, Missouri. Officers found 60-year-old Donna Treece dead on the wooden deck and her 62-year-old husband, Steve E. Treece, standing over her with a handgun. A standoff lasting about five hours followed; negotiators engaged with Steve Treece, who at times threatened officers and pointed his weapon, before he surrendered and was taken into custody.

After his arrest, Steve Treece admitted to investigators that he had shot Donna multiple times and said he had been contemplating the act for several months. He was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and was held without bond. The couple’s son arrived during the standoff and was briefly detained.

Neighbors described Donna as a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother and said the community was stunned. If anyone knew Donna or has information about what led to this killing, please share what you know with authorities.