Eighteen-year-old Landon Bays was found on the side of West Catalpa Street in Springfield, Missouri, with a gunshot wound on March 11, 2016. He was taken to a local hospital and died of his injuries. Because Bays had no identification when he was discovered, investigators released a photo of a distinctive wolf tattoo on his forearm to help identify him.

The investigation produced indictments in July and August 2018. Chad Murphy, then 35, was indicted by a grand jury on second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and drug possession. A second man, 23-year-old Khalil Gaines, was indicted on second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and a drug-related charge; both were arrested and held in the Greene County Jail. Prosecutors said the killing followed a drug deal that went wrong while Bays tried to sell marijuana to Murphy and Gaines; Gaines’ defense later argued the original plan was a robbery and the shooting was accidental.

In October 2019 Khalil Gaines pleaded guilty to second-degree murder; prosecutors recommended a sentence of no more than 25 years, and in January 2020 he was sentenced to 25 years. A trial for Chad Murphy was scheduled for August 2020. Did anyone who knew Landon or witnessed activity on West Catalpa Street around March 11, 2016, see anything that could help clarify what happened?