Jefferson City, Mo. – Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley announced that William “Josh” Carter was convicted of two counts of murder in the first degree following a jury trial in New Madrid County. The jury returned the guilty verdicts after 36 minutes of deliberation.
In June 2016, Carter intentionally struck his estranged wife, Heather Carter, and her friend Aaron Campbell with his SUV, killing them. The dispute began after an argument when the defendant struck Mrs. Carter’s SUV with his SUV and drove off, in Kennett, Missouri. While Mrs. Carter was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, she saw the defendant accelerating towards them from the corner. The defendant struck both victims, sending Mrs. Carter flying through the air and running over Campbell. Campbell died at the scene under the defendant’s vehicle. He had multiple fractures and his spinal column was severed from his skull. Mrs. Carter died at the hospital from internal bleeding due to multiple liver lacerations.
The case was tried in New Madrid County on a change of venue from Dunklin County. Assistant Attorney General Christine Krug tried the case with assistance from Assistant Attorney General Caleb Aponte, investigator Haley Porter and victim advocate Carrie Boessen. Assistant Attorney General Erin Kirsch assisted in pre-trial matters. The case was investigated by the Kennett Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Department. Sentencing is scheduled for October 4, 2018.