Moberly murder suspect released from Macon County Jail after posting bond
Haley Swaino
MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A man suspected of shooting a 23-year-old woman outside his Moberly home appealed to his law enforcement background, lack of criminal history and his “litany of medical issues” as reasons he is not a danger or a flight risk.
David Kip Heyde, 68, of Moberly, has been released from the Macon County Jail after posting $100,000 bond, according to the jail. He is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Bailey Scott.
Court records show his bond was reduced to $100,000 on Friday. Heyde also waived his right to a jury trial on Friday, and a bench trial was scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 6, 2026.
Scott’s friend Lyndsey Smith was in the courtroom Friday.
“I remember just getting up after he [Judge Robert Koffman] said that 100,000 and walked out,” Smith said. “I mean, obviously I came back in because I had to, but it’s just that gut wrenching feeling that even though they feel like he’s not a danger to the community, he is. Because if he felt like he could do it once, he could do it again.”
The motion to reduce bond for Heyde listed six reasons why he should be granted bond, including that he suffers from multiple medical issues that require him to go to the VA in Columbia regularly.
Def. Motion to Modify BondDownload
It also says Heyde served two decades as a law enforcement officer and has no criminal history. Heyde has an expired peace officer’s license, and City of Moberly records say he was once an employee there. Further details about his employment were not available because records more than 20 years old are not maintained.
Smith said she believes Heyde was able to use his history in law enforcement to his advantage.
“He was in law enforcement, that doesn’t matter,” Smith said. “Murder’s wrong at the end of the day.”
Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Luntsford said the judge made it clear he was considering two specific things when looking at bond.
“Is the defendant a flight risk or will his appearances be secured. And two, whether or not there is a risk to public safety,” Luntsford said.
Luntsford said the state requested that no bond remain in place.
Heyde’s release has left some Moberly residents shocked and angry. An ABC 17 News reporter saw two separate vehicles drive by Heyde’s home on Monday and yell things like, “murderer.”
Smith said losing her friend has been hard, but harder when her alleged killer is back home.
“It makes me sick,” Smith said. “I mean, he’ll be able to spend the holidays with his family. And Bailey’s not able to.”
Around 7:30 p.m. July 6, Moberly police were called to a report of shots being fired in the 900 block of East Logan Street, the probable cause statement says. Scott was found with a gunshot wound in her right torso.
Heyde told police he fired two shots at Scott, court documents say. He claimed self-defense, saying Scott hit him during an argument after she alleged he was “attempting to kill birds at the front of his property,” according to the probable cause statement.
Scott “had no obvious signs of trauma or injury to either of her hands,” the statement says. ABC 17 News spoke with neighbors the week of the shooting about ongoing allegations that Heyde put bird feed in the street in front of his home.
Heyde was arrested four days after the shooting and booked into the Randolph County Jail. He was transferred to the Macon County Jail, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. MSHP’s Division of Drug and Crime Control was asked by Moberly police to investigate the shooting.
Smith said the community will never stop fighting for Bailey.
“We’re not going to stop until she gets her justice,” Smith said. “We’re not going to. There is no ifs, ands or buts about it.”