Search fatalities

Robert D. McDermid

Age : 66

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 07/03/2021

Location : Intersection of 7th Street and Duquesne Road

City : Duquesne

County : Jasper

State : Missouri

Agency : Joplin Police Department; Duquesne Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

.
REASON FOR POLICE CHASE:
Suspected intoxicated driving after a man was reported unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle blocking a driveway. At approximately 8:23 a.m., Joplin police received a report of a man passed out in a vehicle in the 800 block of South Rex Avenue. Officers awakened the driver and reported observing signs that he was intoxicated. While police were investigating, the driver drove north on Rex Avenue. Joplin officers attempted to catch up with the vehicle. A nearby Duquesne Police Department officer saw the vehicle driving away and initiated the pursuit eastbound on 7th Street.
.
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY:
On 07/03/2021, 66-year-old Robert D. McDermid of Joplin was killed when a vehicle being pursued by police crashed into his Toyota Prius at East 7th Street and Duquesne Road in Duquesne. McDermid was an uninvolved driver and had no connection to the police encounter.
.
The encounter began at approximately 8:23 a.m. when Joplin police received a report that a man was unconscious inside a vehicle blocking a driveway in the 800 block of South Rex Avenue. Responding officers awakened the driver and reported that he showed signs of intoxication. During the investigation, the driver drove north on Rex Avenue.
.
Joplin officers attempted to catch up to the vehicle. A Duquesne police officer who was nearby saw the vehicle driving away and initiated a pursuit that continued east on 7th Street. Shortly afterward, Joplin officers were notified that the pursued vehicle had crashed into two other vehicles at 7th Street and Duquesne Road.
.
McDermid was driving a Toyota Prius when the pursued vehicle crashed into it at the intersection. McDermid suffered fatal injuries and was transported to Mercy Hospital, where Dr. Jennifer Kolodchak pronounced him dead. Missouri State Highway Patrol reporting recorded McDermid as wearing his seat belt.
.
Police identified the pursued driver as 36-year-old Kenton C. Cowgill of Carthage. After the collision, Cowgill briefly ran from the crash scene before officers apprehended him.
.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the fatal collision while the Joplin Police Department conducted the criminal investigation.
.
McDermid was a retired professor at Missouri Southern State University. His death eventually resulted in a murder prosecution rather than remaining solely a DWI vehicular-death case.
.
Cowgill was convicted after a two-day trial in June 2023 of second-degree murder, DWI resulting in death, felony resisting arrest by fleeing, and drug trafficking. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.
.
McDermid's widow, Teresa McDermid, later filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Cowgill in Jasper County Circuit Court arising from her husband's death.
.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Duquesne Police Department officer who initiated the pursuit and the Joplin Police Department officers involved immediately before it have not been publicly identified in the sources located for this case.
.
DISPOSITION:
Kenton C. Cowgill was convicted of second-degree murder, DWI resulting in death, felony resisting arrest by fleeing, and drug trafficking and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The involved Joplin and Duquesne police officers were not criminally charged for their roles in initiating or participating in the pursuit.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://rturner229.blogspot.com/2021/07/dwi-arrest-for-carthage-man-in-fatality.html
https://www.facebook.com/JoplinPD/posts/on-july-3rd-2021-at-823-am-the-joplin-police-department-received-a-report-of-a-m/1970608436428179/
https://rturner229.blogspot.com/2021/10/carthage-man-to-stand-trial-for-murder.html
https://kggfradio.com/local-news/692864
https://www.newstalkkzrg.com/2023/06/06/jury-selection-begins-in-fatality-drunken-driving-crash-trial/
https://rturner229.blogspot.com/2024/06/mssu-professors-widow-sues-drunk-driver.html