Matthew Lynn Dedmon, a 49-year-old Baptist pastor from Springfield, Missouri, has been granted a $30,000 bond after spending over two years in jail without trial for a first-degree murder charge. Dedmon is accused of shooting 57-year-old Joe Newburn multiple times in the chest on May 28, 2022, after allegedly seeing his wife with Newburn at a restaurant. The incident, which took place in the Ozark Courthouse Square Historic District, led to Newburn’s death the following day at Cox South Hospital.
Following Newburn’s death, Dedmon was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was held without bond for over two years due to a protracted discovery battle and a dispute over a “motion to endorse” witnesses for the trial.
In September 2022, Judge Laura Johnson denied Dedmon’s request for bond, citing several factors in favor of issuing a bond, including Dedmon’s family ties, financial resources, length of residence in the community, and lack of criminal history. However, she also noted the risk of Dedmon not appearing in court due to the severity of the alleged murder, which she said put the public in “grave danger.”
The judge’s decision was based on evidence that Dedmon had a loaded gun in a busy area, which he discharged three to four times, resulting in Newburn’s death. This, she said, put everyone in the vicinity in grave danger. She also expressed concern about Dedmon’s decision-making and judgment, given that this conduct was out of character for him.
However, on October 1, Judge Johnson reversed her decision and set Dedmon’s bond at $30,000. She agreed to release Dedmon from jail on the condition that he wear a GPS and remain on house arrest until further notice. Dedmon is only allowed to leave his home for court appearances and emergency medical attention.
Prior to the ruling, Dedmon, who is a pastor at Heritage Baptist Church, had sought a bond on the grounds that he is not charged with a capital offense. He also accused the prosecution of an “inexcusable act of late endorsements” from the state on trial witnesses.
As of Monday afternoon, Christian County Jail records did not indicate that Dedmon had been released from custody. Both the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Tuohy and Dedmon’s defense attorney, Stacie Calhoun Bilyeu, declined to comment on the case, citing it as a “pending matter.”
Joe Newburn, the victim, was a father of five and a car enthusiast. His obituary described him as “the guy next door that everyone wanted to know.”