Southeast Kansas woman pleads not guilty in Dakota Patton murder case

MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo. (KOAM) -- A southeast Kansas woman pleads "Not Guilty" to the murder of Dakota Patton, 23.

The court entering a not guilty plea for Kimberly Nibarger, of Parsons, Kansas, means her case could end up in a jury trial.

On Tuesday, October 15, Clint Nibarger, Kimberly's husband, changed his plea to guilty. As part of the plea deal, Nibarger will be sentenced for the amended charges of intentional second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

In the plea agreement, the state and Nibarger's attorney are jointly recommending 176 months for Count 1 and 117 months for Count 2. Those sentences would be served consecutively, for a total of 293 months (24.4 years).

A judge will formally decide sentencing on December 3, 2024.

Background Information:

23-year-old Dakota Patton was last seen on April 25, 2023. He was reported missing the day his vehicle was found in a field in rural Labette County on April 27.

Authorities discovered his body in a field on Xavier and 20th Road in Neosho County, on May 8, 2023. Officials say he died from a gunshot wound.

In a disturbing twist, it was revealed that on the same day that Patton's vehicle was found abandoned in a field, Clint Nibarger and Kimberly Thomas got married in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. They then traveled to Missouri for their honeymoon. That's where police arrested Clint and Kimberly in Taney County, Missouri.

According to court documents, Clint Nibarger was reportedly the last person to see Patton alive, arguing with him at a gas station over a woman. The Patton family previously told reporters that they became suspicious of him starting on April 25th, 2023.

Dakota's brother, Patrick Patton, revealed that he had asked Clint Nibarger to help search for Dakota, but he declined, citing having a few too many drinks.

Following their arrest, authorities extradited the couple back to Neosho County.

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