Alleged murderer charged now with stealing guns

Alleged murderer Patricia Santos-Duvalier continues to rack up criminal charges with her most recent case focused on her reported theft of several guns.  

According to the probable cause statement, prepared by Ozark County Deputy Todd Beaver, on Jan. 11, of this year, a man called the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department and reported that approximately 30 guns, ammunition, a safe, clothing and jewelry were taken from a residence in Tecumseh. The report led to an open investigation for the theft. 

On June 25, a witness reportedly contacted the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department and said a resident of the West Vue nursing home in West Plains said Santos-Duvalier stored firearms at her residence in West Plains without her knowledge. The deputy’s report says the resident at the nursing home died June 24, and her sister was at her house the next day, spotted the guns and reported them. 

On June 25, Beaver contacted the man who had originally reported the guns stolen. He reiterated that there had been approximately 30 firearms stolen, including some pistols, from his residence in Tecumseh. He said one of the firearms was a .44 magnum with a scope. The man said the gun had the names Wyatt and Larry carved into both sides of the stock. Another rifle was described as a 30-30 bolt action with a blonde stock and forearm. 

Beaver and Sheriff Cass Martin then went to the late resident’s home in West Plains. Her sister reportedly met them at the door and said, “You must be here for the guns.” She then gave the two officers consent to enter and search the residence, the report says. 

The officers reportedly recovered 19 rifles and nine pistols, along with ammunition, holsters, scabbards and a gun vice. Some of the firearms reportedly matched that of the description given in the report in January, allowing the officers to identify and recover the stolen firearms. 

Santos-Duvalier was arrested in January on charges of second-degree murder and first-degree assault in the death of a 38-year-old severely mentally handicapped woman from Tecumseh who Santos-Duvalier was the caregiver for. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney Lee Pipkins said those charges have been dismissed but will be refiled soon.

According to the original probable cause affidavit, the victim was found dead in the front yard of her residence in Tecumseh. The autopsy determined the cause of death to be undetermined due to internal blood loss, however numerous injuries were visible all over the victim’s body. During an interview with law enforcement, Santos-Duvalier denied causing the injuries, but law enforcement say she lied about being in the victim’s vehicle and her whereabouts prior to calling 911. 

According to online records, Santos-Duvalier is charged with 28 felony counts of stealing a firearm. She was arraigned on the charges June 30 and remains in the Ozark County Jail. She also has unrelated cases filed against her including a misdemeanor case of violating an ex-parte order of protection for an adult and felony hindering prosecution for a felony open in Ozark County currently.