Jason Isbell, 44, of Hillsboro has been charged with murder for allegedly killing a man who had been missing since June 1, 2019, authorities reported.
Isbell is accused of murdering Samuel Israelsen of St. Louis, who was 41 when he went missing, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a written statement.
Israelsen’s remains were found Tuesday night (April 6) wrapped in plastic and under an outdoor carpet on property off East Osage Drive near Twin River Road west of High Ridge, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Isbell today (April 8) with first-degree murder, a class A felony punishable by the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole, as well as armed criminal action, an unclassified felony punishable by a minimum of three years in prison.
The Sheriff’s Office said Isbell was being held at the Jefferson County Jail without bond today.
In addition, the Sheriffs’ Office said three other people have been identified as witnesses or accomplices in the alleged murder and were in custody tonight. The Sheriff’s Office will not release the names of those three suspects unless charges are filed against them.
According to the probable-cause statement in the case, Israelsen’s mother reported her son missing on July 31, 2019, nearly two months after he was last been seen being dropped off at a home on Ridgedale Drive, which is not far from where his body was discovered this week.
Isbell reportedly was at the home during that time, the report said.
On Wednesday (April 7), an autopsy was performed on Israelsen’s body, and a large “St. Louis” tattoo was found on his left arm, which is how he was identified as the victim, the probable-cause statement said.
The autopsy also concluded that Israelsen had suffered extensive head trauma. Isbell is believed to have used a metal bat to strike Israelsen in the head numerous times, the probable-cause statement said.
The Sheriff’s Office contacted Isbell at his home Wednesday (April 7), and he reported to the Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed for the investigation, the report said.
Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak praised investigators for their work in the case.
“They worked quickly once Israelsen’s body was located to locate, question and arrest the suspects. Without their diligence, the victim’s family might not have received closure,” Marshak said. “We’d also like to thank Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Stefanski’s office for their cooperation and quick movement on criminal charges.
Isbell previously pleaded guilty to at least two prior felony charges and a misdemeanor charge, according to court documents.
On July 31, 2017, he was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary, four years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance, and 120 days in jail for unlawful use of drug paraphernalia, court records said.
The two prison terms were suspended, and Isbell was placed on five years’ probation after he completed 120 days of shock incarceration, court documents said.