Murder for hire scheme uncovered in Rich Hill

In June of 2011 the Bates County Sheriff's Office received information from the Rich Hill Police Department in reference to a murder for hire scheme.  A resident of Rich Hill had approached several people with the intent to find someone that would be willing to kill her ex-husband. 

Joann Stepp

In early July, undercover agents from the Sheriff's Office began talking with the female subject.  On July 13th the undercover agent met with her in Rich Hill.  The female identified as Joann R. Stepp, 32, of Rich Hill told the agent that she wanted her ex-husband Jody Stepp killed.  Joann provided the agent with his current address and told him how to find a picture of him on Facebook.  She also agreed to set up a meeting with Jody Stepp and the agent.  Stepp agreed to pay the agent $4000 when she received her income tax return next year.

On July 14th, Detective Talley, Lt. Perryman, Under-Sheriff Moreland and Sheriff Anderson dressed in disguise, met with Joann Stepp in Rich Hill.  She thought she was hiring a motorcycle gang to kill her husband.  Stepp provided a knife to the group to be used in the homicide and identified the knife as belonging to Jody Stepp. She had requested certain body parts be returned to her once the killing was done. 

Stepp was arrested by uniformed Deputies shortly after leaving the meeting.  She was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and bond was set by the Honorable Judge Hopkins at $300,000.