Chadd charged in hit-and-run

Margaret L. Chadd, of Sheldon, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident which resulted in a death, which is a class D felony; and one count of tampering with physical evidence, a class E felony.

The charges stem from the Sunday evening hit-and-run of 61-year-old Billy J. Willis. Willis was traveling west on DD Highway on a bicycle when he was struck by a 2017 Nissan Rogue allegedly driven by Chadd. Willis was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal Jeff Baird, Chadd called the MSHP dispatch Sunday night to report she had been involved in a crash with a deer. However, it continues to state she made attempts to destroy physical evidence by “completely covering the rental vehicle in mud” before returning it to the rental company Monday morning.

The highway patrol recommended a third charge of making a false report, but Vernon County Prosecutor Brandi McInroy chose not to file it.

Chadd is being held at the Vernon County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash or surety bond.