Rifle-Wielding Missouri Teen Slayed His Father Before Giving Gun to Victim's Wife: Police

By
Carter Curtis
Carter Curtis,18, allegedly shot and killed his adoptive father with a rifle on September 28. Bates County Sheriff's Office

An 18-year-old Missouri teen is in custody after allegedly shooting his adoptive father in the head and handing the rifle to the victim's wife, telling her, "I had to do it," according to police.

Carter J. Curtis faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action for allegedly shooting his father with a rifle.

Court records state that Saturday, September 28, just after 11:20 p.m., deputies with the Bates County Sheriff's Office arrived at a residence after receiving a call from a male subject claiming to have killed his father, reported FOX 4.

They were met by two women in the driveway who were screaming, "He has never been violent."

Authorities continued into the home and upstairs into the kitchen, where they found 41-year-old John McMurphy face down on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head.

At the time of the shooting, the wife of the victim says she was woken by the sound of a gunshot and told law enforcement that when she walked into the hallway, she witnessed Curtis standing there with a rifle.

He allegedly handed her the weapon and said, "I already called 911," and "I had to do it."

Curtis is being held in a Bates County jail on a no bond warrant.

Tags
Missouri, Murder

© 2025 Lawyer Herald All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Join the Discussion
More News
Florida Man Who Allegedly Terrorized Pregnant Girlfriend Sent Her Photos

Florida Man Who Allegedly Terrorized Pregnant Girlfriend Sent Her Photos of Her Toddlers Beaten After She Escaped: Police

Police Chief Spiked Officers' Coffee With Viagra, Left Body Hair

Police Chief Terrorized Staff by Pooping on the Floor, Spiking Coffee with Viagra and Sprinkling Body Hair on Food: Complaint

Texas Man Rammed Parked Tesla

Texas Man Rammed ATV Into Parked Tesla 'at Full Speed,' Keyed 'Elon' Into Side of Others: Police

Dumpster Diving Pedo_03282025_1

Binders of Child Porn Discovered in Dumpster by Homeless Duo Leads Man to Admit to Molesting Dozens of Children: Police