First-degree murder charge filed in Gasconade County homicide case
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Hermann man was charged with first-degree murder in Gasconade County on Friday.
Court filings say a warrant was served on Friday to David Luecke Jr. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. A court date has not been scheduled. A mugshot was not immediately available.
The probable cause statement says authorities were called on May 23 to Route T for a reported suicide by hanging. The statement says the victim’s body was “in a position inconsistent with death by hanging” and that they were on the ground for an extended period of time. The victim had other cuts, bruises and scrapes that could not be immediately explained, the statement says.
The Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Saturday social media post that the victim was Noah Cantlon.
Court documents say the autopsy determined debris was inside the victim’s mouth and eyes. People described as witnesses allegedly told law enforcement that Luecke accused the victim of “snitching” to law enforcement, the statement says.
Another witness allegedly told law enforcement that they saw Luecke attack and strangle the victim in the woods, the statement says. The victim’s body was eventually found without a shirt, the statement says. A witness allegedly saw Luecke carrying the shirt, court documents say.
Court documents say a leather belt was used to strangle the victim and it was recovered by law enforcement after a search.