Wentworth man admits killing Amazon driver after waiting for her van to return
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A Southwest Missouri man has pleaded guilty to killing an Amazon delivery driver in Lawrence County.
Thomas Coy, of Wentworth, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the February 2025 death of 23-year-old Jasmine Sky Taylor, of Joplin.
The shooting happened along Lawrence County Road 2152 west of Highway 97 near Wentworth.
Investigators said Coy saw an Amazon delivery van traveling down the road, went back to his home, grabbed an air rifle and then returned outside and waited for the van to come back.
As Taylor approached Coy’s driveway, investigators said Coy shot her in the head with the pellet-style air rifle.
Video from inside the Amazon van showed Taylor suddenly slump over in the driver’s seat.
The van continued off the road, crossed into a field and crashed into a fence.
Investigators said Coy then walked to the crashed van, removed Taylor from the driver’s seat and placed her in a roadside ditch.
At first, authorities did not know Taylor had been shot.
A witness reported what appeared to be a traffic crash shortly before 4 p.m., and Taylor was taken to a Joplin hospital.
Nearly two hours later, the hospital contacted Lawrence County authorities and reported doctors had discovered a projectile lodged in Taylor’s head.
Deputies then reviewed Amazon’s video, traced the shooting to the area of Coy’s driveway and questioned him.
According to the probable cause statement, Coy admitted shooting Taylor with the pellet rifle and acknowledged moving her from the van after the crash.
Taylor remained hospitalized for four days before dying Feb. 9.
Investigators said they established a motive and said the shooting was not a robbery, but they never publicly disclosed the motive.
Neighbors later told reporters Coy had complained about delivery vehicles speeding along the road, though authorities did not publicly confirm that was why Taylor was shot.
Coy had originally been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.
He will be sentenced in November.
