Possible Body of Brandon Spears Found

The body of what is presumed to be that of 43-year-old Brandon Spears was found early Sunday afternoon by a homeowner in the Fairground/Lakeview Road area in Mexico. The location is near where Spears was last seen on December 23rd. The person had apparently tried to take shelter in a backyard shed and died there from exposure.

Spears is wanted by local law enforcement for first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree arson and armed criminal action. It is believed he set fire to an apartment complex in the 1200 block of West Breckenridge Drive about 1:30am on December 23, 2022. The blaze destroyed nine apartments.

The accused lived in the building at the time, along with his mother, Ruth Stuart, 60, whose body was found in the fire, but who is believed to have died from blunt force trauma just prior to the blaze.

Spears was then spotted at Spartan Light Metal’s warehousing facility at West Boulevard and Elmwood Drive around 2:30am where he started a second fire in an office/storage area.

Spears had just been paroled from the Missouri Department of Corrections a week prior to the fire. He had served eight stints in prison, most from habitual parole revocations on technical violations and misdemeanor offenses.

Based on clothing, tattoos, and general build, the body is believed to be Spears. An autopsy is planned by Audrain County Coroner Todd Yager through the Boone County Medical Examiner’s office.