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Murder Charges Filed In Carol Thomas Case

Kidnapping Charges Filed In Clay County

POSTED: 9:34 am CST November 6, 2009
UPDATED: 6:54 pm CST November 6, 2009

Murder charges were just been filed against three people in the death of Carol Thomas.

On Friday afternoon, prosecutors in Ray County, Mo., charged James Reardon, 23, with first-degree murder, while Erik Zimmerman, 29, and Jennifer Saling, 21, have been charged with second-degree murder.

Court records indicate the killing was a possible case of a drug deal gone bad. Court documents said that Thomas was abducted and killed over a $500 drug deal. Court records state that the victim stiffed one of the men on a drug deal, selling him rock salt and he was “pissed.”

Prosecutors said Thomas was kicking along the way when she was driven to Ray County, where investigators said Reardon shot her twice.

At a Friday morning press conference, Clay County officials said they are filing kidnapping charges against the three. Police said they kidnapped Thomas from Excelsior Springs.

All three suspects have previous criminal records. Reardon has a 2005 DWI conviction in Clay County; a 2006 driving while revoked charge in Linn County, Mo.; a 2006 DWI Conviction in Linn County; a 2006 drug possession conviction in Linn County and a 2006 driving without license charge in Caldwell County, Mo.

Erik R. Zimmerman's record includes a 2007 drug conviction in Clay County and a 2007 resisting arrest conviction in Ray County.

Jennifer L. Saling has a 2009 drug conviction in Ray County on her criminal record.

Thomas' body was found in rural Ray County, Mo., on Monday. Police said Thomas was shot to death.

Ray County prosecutors will handle the murder charges, while Clay County will prosecute the kidnapping charge.

The fourth person in custody has been released, police said. That woman was shot two times.

Police said rumors that one of the suspects is an ex-boyfriend of Thomas are untrue.

All three people are being held on $1 million bond.

Police said some of their information shows Thomas and the three charged were acquainted.

After news of Thomas' disappearance, police said they received a number of helpful tips in the case.

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