In the heart of Missouri’s farmland, a land dispute boiled over, resulting in the death of a local farmer and a shocking murder charge against a neighboring land owner who was also a former police officer.
The Dispute
The Bacon Farm and the Head Farm were neighboring properties in Knox County, Missouri. The two farm owners maintained a cordial relationship for over ten years. That relationship deteriorated after a disagreement related to hunting on their land.
The Head Farm was landlocked and could only be accessed by a farm road that crossed the Bacon Farm property. The Mr. Bacon claimed the road was private and informed the Mr. Head that he was no longer permitted to use it. After checking with county officials and an attorney, Mr. Head believed the road was public and continued using it to access and work his farm.
What followed was not a civil lawsuit over property rights, but a frightening confrontation that led to a murder charge. It was the first charged murder in decades for Knox County.
The Death
Mr. Head began carrying a revolver when he went to work his land after being told that the other man had threatened to shoot him. He was a retired police officer who understood the risks involved in rural confrontations and took the threats seriously.
One day, while fertilizing his property by tractor, Mr. Head discovered that Mr. Bacon had blocked the farm road with a vehicle, preventing him from leaving . After completing his work, Mr. Head parked his tractor and attempted to speak with Mr. Bacon in order to resolve the situation.
The conversation quickly escalated. As Mr. Head attempted to return to his tractor, Mr. Bacon attacked him, striking him in the head without warning. Aware of prior threats, Mr. Head drew his revolver in an attempt to stop the attack. Mr. Bacon didn’t stop. Rather, he lunged forward and grabbed the firearm, attempting to wrest it away.
Mr. Head found himself engaged in a close-quarters struggle for control of the gun. He had previously been forced into retirement due to serious and permanent injuries that limited his physical strength and mobility. Those injuries left him at a clear disadvantage against an able-bodied attacker. Despite this, he was able to briefly regain control of the revolver and create some distance between himself and Mr. Bacon.
Mr. Head warned him to stop. Mr. Bacon again reached for the firearm and Mr. Head fired two shots, striking him once in the torso.
Immediately afterward, Mr. Head called 911. Due to the remote location of the farms, emergency responders did not arrive for an extended period of time. By the time Mr. Bacon reached the hospital, he was too far gone and died shortly after arrival.
What began as a land-access dispute between neighboring farmers had now escalated into a fatal encounter. The police and prosecutor immediately treated it as a murder case, setting the stage for a legal battle centered on self-defense, prior threats, and the realities of violence in rural property disputes.
Murder charges are filed
Mr. Head was formally charged with second-degree murder, a charge that carries the possibility of life in prison, within 24-hours. Overnight, a landowner trying to work his farm became a criminal defendant facing the full weight of the Missouri justice system.
As often happens in murder cases, details of the case became the center of intense media attention, adding a layer of complexity to defending Mr. Head not only in the courtroom, but in the media as well.
“A murder charge changes everything. Your freedom, your reputation, and your family’s future are suddenly on the line.”
Choosing the Right Murder Defense Lawyer
Facing a murder charge, the defendant had a difficult decision to make: who to trust with his life and liberty.
He ultimately took the advice of a lawyer he trusted—someone who understood both the stakes and the complexity of a self-defense homicide case. That advice led him to hire James Law Group, headed by veteran Missouri trial attorney Charlie James.
James Law Group entered the case knowing the defense would require more than simply saying the shooting was self-defense. Murder cases demand deep preparation, precise jury messaging, and a clear command of Missouri self-defense law.
“When someone is charged with murder, there is no margin for error. Every decision matters.”
Securing Bond in a Murder Case
One of the first priorities after accepting the case was obtaining bond.
In many murder prosecutions, defendants can remain jailed for months—or even years—awaiting trial. Defendants don’t get that time back if they are found not guilty. James Law Group moved quickly, presenting the court with the facts surrounding the incident, the defendant’s background as a former law enforcement officer, and the lack of flight risk or danger to the community.
As a result, James Law Group successfully secured the Mr. Head’s release on bond shortly after entering the case, allowing him to return home while preparing for his day in court.
“Being free while fighting a murder charge is not a luxury—it is essential to a fair defense.”
Managing the Media
In rural Knox county and neighboring counties like Shelby, Adair, and Macon, the legal battle became the focus of intense media scrutiny. Every court date and every filing were scrutinized and reported on by multiple media outlets.
To prevent local rumors and opinions of the people involved from affecting the eventual trial, James Law Group secured a “change of venue,” which moved the trial to a different county. Even in a new county, however, media attention became pervasive and including numerous facts, rumors, and other information that would be inadmissible at trial.
Given the extremely small population of the county where the trial was to be held, James Law Group became concerned that the population of the new county had been so inundated with media coverage that Mr. Head could not receive a fair trial there either.
Based upon extensive evidence gathered by James Law Group, including the testimony of witnesses from varies parts of the county, the judge agreed. In a rare occurrence, the trial was moved to a new county for a second time. This time, the trial was moved multiple counties away to Randolph County.
The Murder Trial: Self-Defense at the Center
The trial was held in a tiny courtroom in Moberly, Missouri’s old court house so the day to day functions of Randolph County’s new courthouse in Harrisonville, Missouri would not be disrupted.
At trial, prosecutors argued that the shooting amounted to criminal murder, while the defense focused on what the evidence actually showed:
- A documented history of hostility and threats
- A physical ambush/sucker punch
- A violent struggle over a firearm
- A physically disabled defendant facing an able-bodied attacker
- Repeated attempts to disengage before shots were fired
- Immediate call to 911
James Law Group presented the case as what it was: an act of self-defense as a matter of last resort.
Jurors heard testimony detailing the prior threats, the defendant’s attempts to resolve the dispute by hiring an attorney, the defendant’s permanent injuries, and his inability to physically resist an attacker, They also got to hear directly from him about the moment he realized he might not survive another attempt to take his weapon.
Even the investigating officers had to admit that if someone tried to take their gun away, they would shoot.
“Self-defense does not require someone to wait until they are killed.”
Not Guilty: Justice Takes the Facts Seriously
After hearing from 28 witnesses called to testify and after reviewing more than 175 pieces of evidence, the jury returned a not-guilty verdict, rejecting the murder charge in a shockingly fast verdict.
The verdict affirmed a core principle of Missouri law: people have the right to defend themselves when faced with an imminent threat of death or serious harm.
Following the verdict, the defendant stated that he knew he had done nothing wrong—a sentiment echoed by the jury’s decision.
Why Murder Defense Requires Experience
Murder cases are unlike any other criminal charge. They are emotionally charged, fact-intensive, and are sometimes tried in the court of public opinion long before a jury is seated. James Law Group approaches murder defense with the seriousness it demands:
- Early intervention
- Aggressive bond advocacy
- Clear framing of the case
- Managing media attention
- Meticulous trial preparation
- Relentless courtroom advocacy
At James Law Group, we take justice seriously.