HUNTSVILLE — A Randolph County judge found a Moberly man guilty Friday in the 2025 fatal shooting of a woman after hearing closing arguments in the case.
Randolph County Judge Robert Koffman found David Kip Heyde guilty in the death of 23-year-old Bailey Scott following a two-day bench trial at the Randolph County Courthouse.
Koffman scheduled Heyde's sentencing for 1 p.m. Aug. 21.
During closing arguments, Heyde's attorney, Gillis Leonard, argued Heyde acted in self-defense because several medical conditions left him uncertain of his ability to physically defend himself during a confrontation with Scott.
"He stated consistently, he was fearful of injury," Leonard said. "He repeatedly said, 'Get off my property.' He used some more powerful words, but you understand."
Bailey Scott was shot and killed Sunday night in Moberly. She was 23.
Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Luntsford argued the claim was not credible, pointing to testimony that Heyde was still physically capable of doing yard work, including pulling weeds around his property.
She also questioned Heyde's credibility after accusing him of lying repeatedly about his relationship with Scott.
"He repeatedly told officers ... 'I don't know who this woman is. I didn't know who she was,'" Luntsford said. "Yet, he had previously worked with her. She had lived across the street from him."
Koffman ruled the evidence did not support Heyde's claim of self-defense. The judge found there was no threat to Heyde that justified the use of deadly force and concluded the shooting was not lawful self-defense.
Ashley Komer is a friend of Scott's. She told KOMU 8 she believes justice was served and that she hopes Heyde gets the sentence he deserves.
"Bailey was a sweet person," Komer said. "I've never seen her angry. I've never seen her act out of character like that."
Heyde was charged with second-degree murder after Scott was shot on July 6, 2025, at his Moberly home.
During Thursday's first day of testimony, prosecutors presented evidence from multiple witnesses, including Randolph County Coroner Charlie Peele, who testified he pronounced Scott dead at the scene after finding a gunshot wound to her rib cage.
David Kip Heyde sits in a Randolph County courtroom on June 25 at the Randolph County Courthouse in Huntsville on the first day of his murder trial. He is charged in the death of Bailey Scott in July 2025.
The court also heard testimony from Sgt. Derrick Powell, a criminal investigator with the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control. Powell testified that Heyde, a former Moberly police officer, told investigators he feared for his life when he shot Scott.
Powell also testified Heyde said he "didn't want to deal with her anymore."
Prosecutors introduced photographs of the crime scene, Scott's body, Heyde's home and the firearm investigators said was used in the shooting.
Neighbor Alexandria Hardy testified she heard the two arguing before the shooting. Hardy said Scott was telling Heyde to stop putting bird feed in the road while Heyde yelled for Scott to get out of his yard. Hardy testified she later heard what she believed was a firecracker, but did not think much of it because it was around the Fourth of July holiday.