Kenneth Allen Willard, 53, traveled from his home in Bismarck to Stoddard County for a hunting trip on October 20, 2014, and was last seen by his daughter at a Zalma convenience store on October 24. When he failed to return as planned five days after leaving, a search was mounted. A fisherman later found a man’s body in the Black River near the Markham Springs Recreation area; Wayne County deputies identified the remains as Willard’s and determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound, with foul play suspected.

Investigators from multiple county sheriff’s offices focused on people Willard knew. Authorities charged 30-year-old Russell Dale Mayberry of Zalma with first-degree murder in the death, and alleged that Russell’s father, 59-year-old Roger Dale Mayberry, hid evidence and hindered the prosecution. Roger told investigators that Russell and Willard had been at his sawmill, that he heard a gunshot and found Willard dead, and that Russell claimed he shot Willard because he believed Willard was setting him up in a drug-related dispute.

Russell Dale Mayberry later pleaded guilty to a murder charge in connection with Willard’s death. Did anyone in the area know Kenneth’s hunting plans or see him around Zalma in late October 2014?