LINCOLN COUNTY, Mo. — The Warren County Sheriff's Department is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of a man suspected of killing his neighbor in Wright City.
Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison on Monday identified the victim in Friday's shooting as 49-year-old Phil Blankenship. Deputies are searching for James Frazer, 38, who was Blankenship's neighbor and acquaintance.
The sheriff's office is offering a monetary reward for any information that leads to Frazer's arrest. An exact amount had not yet been decided on for the reward.
Harrison said the sheriff's office is aware that Frazer is still receiving help from friends, and anyone who is helping hide him from law enforcement could also face charges.
Blankenship was found dead from a gunshot wound at about 6:30 a.m. Friday in the 29000 block of Bobwhite Lane.
As of Monday, multiple search warrants had been served in Lincoln, Warren and St. Charles counties as investigators worked around the clock to find Frazer, Harrison said.
Deputies said Frazer has been moving with help from friends and has recently been to locations on Bobwhite Lane, Highway J and Mistic Drive in Wright City. He was last seen near Linns Mill Road and Highway U in Lincoln County.
He is described as being 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 180 pounds with brown hair and a beard. He was last seen wearing a black ball cap, dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, baggy blue jeans and work boots.
Investigators with the Warren County Sheriff's Department, Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol were communicating with family and friends to encourage Frazer to turn himself in.
The Warren County Sheriff's Department initially reported Frazer as armed and dangerous but said it was unclear if he was still armed after investigators found weapons hidden in the woods behind the crime scene on Saturday.
"Due to the nature of the incident, the public is still warned to exercise extreme caution regarding the subject," the department said.
Police are asking for the public's help. If you know of Frazer's whereabouts contact Warren County Emergency Services at 636-456-7088.