4 of 6 defendants sentenced in kidnapping conspiracy

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KOAM) -- A federal judge sentences a Webb City woman for her role in a kidnapping conspiracy and for illegally possessing a firearm.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Amy Kay Thomas, 40, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole.

Court documents show Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Thomas is the fourth defendant to be sentenced in this case.

Court documents also show Russell Eugene Hurtt, 52, of Greenwood, Missouri, was sentenced on Tuesday, April 16 to seven years in federal prison without parole.

Two co-defendants awaiting sentencing

Freddie Lewis Tilton, 51, of Joplin, Missouri, sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

Carla Jo Ward, 49, of Joplin, Missouri sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

Background Information

According to court documents:

Gibson admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to kidnap the victim in July 2020. Tilton offered Ward and Vaughan $5,000 each to locate and secure the victim for him. Ward picked up the victim and took him to Vaughan's home. Vaughan and Tilton communicated throughout the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. Vaughan sent a text message to Tilton that read, "He's got 2 guns." A few hours later, Vaughan sent a test message to Tilton that read, "OK we've got both his gun put up," and "Guns are secure I'm waiting for you."

Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson arrived at Vaughan's home in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. They bound the victim's hands with handcuffs, and duct tape was placed around his mouth and parts of his body. Gibson, Thomas, and others assaulted the victim for a period of time. Gibson admitted he burned the victim with a blowtorch.

Tilton fatally shot the victim in the head.

Gibson and others cleaned up the blood and wrapped the victim's body in plastic wrap and Gibson transported it to Hurtt's property.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Hurtt's property on July 28, 2020, based on information that a deceased body was located on the acreage. When officers attempted to contact the occupants of the home, Tilton fired multiple shots from inside the home at the officers.

The officers arrested Tilton.

Officers searched the property and found the victim's body, a Rigarmi .25-caliber pistol, an Ithaca .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .22-calibar rifle without a serial number, a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9mm handgun, and a Taurus 9mm handgun without a serial number.

Investigators

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff's Department, the Neosho, Mo., Police Department, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Ozark Drug Enforcement Team, and the Cherokee County, Kan., Sheriff's Department.

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