David Michael Slim Bewig Jr. was found dead in a car in the 5500 block of Etzel Avenue in St. Louis in the early hours of December 9, 2016. Police discovered the 31-year-old, a Pevely resident who worked in lawn care and promoted music events, with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. He had been in St. Louis the day before making arrangements for his upcoming birthday party.

Investigators developed a theory that the killer was someone known to Bewig based on witness accounts. In December 2018, 33-year-old Darin Schmidt of Pevely was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action after four people told detectives Schmidt had confessed to killing Bewig on three separate occasions. A jury convicted Schmidt in 2019, but an appeals court later overturned the conviction because a prosecutor asked witnesses whether they believed Schmidt was telling the truth, which the court called plain error.

Prosecutors have had trouble getting the original witnesses to return for a retrial and reportedly have considered a manslaughter plea that would allow parole sooner. Bewig’s family has urged those witnesses to testify to keep the case moving. Does anyone have information about witnesses or contacts in Pevely who can help this investigation?