Lance Terrill, 34, was fatally shot at his home off Z Highway in northwest Douglas County near Fordland, Missouri, on October 12, 2017. His two young children were in the house during the shooting. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office led the long investigation with assistance from Christian and Webster County authorities; investigators at one point were seeking two persons of interest.

In January 2024 a Douglas County grand jury returned an indictment charging 28-year-old Howard J.G. Applegate of Ava with first-degree murder in connection with Terrill’s death. The indictment also included armed criminal action, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of concealing a felony; Applegate was already in the Douglas County Jail on unrelated assault and burglary charges when the indictment was handed down. The probe was described as spanning hundreds of hours over nearly six years.

Anyone who knew Lance, saw activity near Z Highway in October 2017, or has information that could help the investigation is asked to come forward.