Wanted man arrested in Newton County homicide case

NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. (KOAM) - Authorities have arrested a man wanted in connection to a May 30 homicide in Newton County, Missouri.

The fatal shooting happened on Freddie Lane in Joplin. Authorities found 50-year-old Eric Whittington dead outside the home. The Newton County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as Joshua William Ray Taft.

Authorities believe an altercation had occurred between the victim and the suspect.

The court issued a felony warrant for Taft for Murder Second Degree, Armed Criminal Action, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Endangering the Welfare of a Child First Degree.

On Thursday afternoon, with the help of the US Marshals Fugitive Taskforce, authorities found and arrested Taft in Oklahoma without incident.

"We want to thank all the agencies that assisted with locating Taft and I would like to personally recognize the hard work and dedication of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division. Many hours of investigation, follow ups, and working of leads has led to the successful capture of a dangerous man," states the Newton County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Rick Geller in a release.

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