A Caruthersville man has been found guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action following a four-day jury trial in Pemiscot County.
Pemiscot County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Dicus announced that a jury convicted 33-year-old Wendell A. Prather of Caruthersville on July 2, 2026. The charges stem from the July 19, 2018, fatal shooting of 26-year-old Keniqua Jones of Caruthersville. Officers responded to a shooting on Walker Street and found Jones unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities located Prather the following afternoon wading in the Mississippi River. Investigators said Prather asked officers, “How did you find me?” and told them he had been in the river since the previous night. After receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, Prather admitted to shooting Jones in the back of the head. Investigators also said he provided details about the homicide that had not been released publicly.
Following deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts. The Honorable Josh Underwood presided over the trial.
Prather is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19, 2026. Under Missouri law, a conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Armed criminal action carries a minimum sentence of three years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Caruthersville Police Department, the Pemiscot County Sheriff’s Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
“This was my first trial since moving over to Pemiscot County,” Dicus said. “It is my honor to help ensure justice for the victim and her family. Our law enforcement officers involved in this case have once again demonstrated a high level of skill and professionalism, and they deserve tremendous credit for their work.”
