Latest news with #Hupp
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Investigator lied under oath in Betsy Faria murder case, prosecutor says
LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. – A former investigator in the high-profile 2011 murder case of Betsy Faria – later linked to Pam Hupp – is now accused of lying under oath during testimony in Lincoln County, prosecutors say. On Tuesday, the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Michael A. Merkel, 46, of Troy, Missouri, with two felony counts of perjury in criminal trial to secure conviction of murder. Court documents allege that Merkel provided false testimony during a criminal trial to secure the conviction of Russ Faria in the murder of Betsy Faria, his wife, who was found dead in her home on December 27, 2011. Sheriff 'ousting' talk grows after budget showdown During the course of the murder investigation, authorities learned that Betsy changed the beneficiary of her $150,000 life insurance policy to Hupp just days before her death. While this raised suspicions around the time of Russ' retrial, Hupp was off the hook from charges at the time. Russ would ultimately serve three years behind bars before he was acquitted in a 2016 retrial. Hupp later came under renewed scrutiny in the 2016 murder of Louis Gumpenberger, a man with disabilities. While she claimed he was a home intruder, police determined she had lured him to her home and staged the scene to divert attention from the Faria case. According to new court documents obtained by FOX 2 over Merkel's charges, investigators used a Bluestar luminescence test to evaluate blood evidence at the crime scene, but the results were disputed during the trial. Merkel testified that photographs taken during the Bluestar test showed 'absolutely nothing' due to a camera malfunction, but forensic review later contradicted that claim. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The defense argued that the photographs were not provided during pretrial discovery, raising questions about the integrity of the evidence presented. During the retrial, Merkel clarified that his earlier testimony meant the photographs did not show any chemical luminescence, not that they were entirely blank. Court documents also cited a media inquiry from an investigative reporter in connection with Merkel's charges, one believed to be related to at least two reports from FOX Files investigators Chris Hayes (STORY 1 & STORY 2). Lincoln County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Krehmeyer requested a $250,000 cash-only bond for Merkel. A document with that request reads: 'One of the pillars of our criminal justice system is that the citizens of this country can depend upon honesty and integrity of those individuals that are entrusted with the responsibility of investigating potential criminal conduct.' As of Wednesday, court documents have not listed an attorney for Merkel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘It just hurts': Vancouver man, 62, identified as deadly shooting victim
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Authorities have identified the victim of a deadly shooting that happened in Vancouver on Saturday. The Clark County Medical Examiner's Office said 62-year-old Rodney A. Hupp was shot to death on May 3. The cause of death was listed as gunshot wounds Hupp sustained in his torso and right thigh after being murdered in his home, officials said. Yelp names top 10 Portland-area brunch spots The shooting occurred around 4 a.m. near Southeast French Road and 19th Street. The Vancouver Police Department responded after a 911 call, finding the victim seriously wounded. He was taken to a hospital but later died, officials said. KOIN 6 News spoke with Eileen Ward, Hupp's cousin. She described him as 'a gentleman of no violence' and left behind a wife and seven adult children. 'He definitely loved love and loved fishing and all those great things of life,' Ward said. 'And it just hurts. It hurts to the core, because I know that now my buddy won't be here.' The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact Vancouver police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
