Human remains identified, suspect arrested

A man from Joplin has been arrested in connection to, now identified, human remains that were found in rural Newton County.

Read the full press release from Joplin Police below:

The Joplin Police Department was recently notified by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office of a death investigation that had possibly originated within the City of Joplin.

After further investigation and collaboration with Newton County authorities, it was determined that on March 18th, 2022 there was a verbal altercation at 2502 E. Vandalia Street between two individuals over the purchase of a vehicle.

During the disagreement, the suspect, who has been identified as Damyon D. Fisher, age 40, of Joplin, retrieved a handgun from his waistband and shot the victim in the back as he was fleeing. Fisher and an accomplice then disposed of the victim’s body by burying it in a well at an address in Newton County, Missouri.

The victim’s body was recovered from the well on April 27th, 2022. The victim has been tentatively identified as Scotty J. Roller, age 36, of Neosho, Missouri, however, an official autopsy is pending.

Roller had been previously reported as a missing person to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.

On the afternoon of April 27th, Detectives with the Joplin Police Department located and arrested Fisher during a traffic stop and transported him to the Joplin Police Department. He remains in custody in the Joplin City Jail.

Charges have been submitted to the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the charge of Murder in the 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action.

This investigation is ongoing and further details will be released as they become available.

Newton County Sheriff Chris Jennings tells us that the resident of the home at 20364 Crane Drive in Seneca, 64-year-old Eddie Fisher, was taken into custody on separate charges unrelated to this particular investigation but more charges could be filed.