Killer kept woman in cage and dismembered her body before burning house
A man has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for allegedly keeping a woman in a cage and then dismembering her.
James Phelps, 60, was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse in the death of 33-year-old Cassie Rainwater.
The charges came after photos showing the victim's body disemboweled and dismembered were found on Phelps' phone, authorities said.
The victim was bound to a gantry crane usually used to store deer carcasses.
Investigators found her last known location was at Phelps’ home in Lebanon but he told cops she was there but had left a month earlier.
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Photos were found of Cassidy Rainwater bound to crane usually used to store deer carcassesThe Missouri man was charged along with Timothy Norton in September 2021 after DNA tests identified the remains found at Phelps’ home near Lebanon as Rainwater, Dallas County officials said at the time.
They were initially arrested on a kidnapping charge after the FBI received a tip that photos of Rainwater partially nude and in a cage were found on Phelps’ phone.
Phelps has entered an Alford plea which means he does not admit guilt but acknowledges enough evidence exists to convict him.
Dallas County Judge Jill Porter sentenced Phelps with no chance of parole because of the horrific nature of the crime.
The sheriff’s office said: “The photos depicted a partially clothed female in a cage who we recognised as Cassidy.
“The other photos depicted Cassidy’s body bound to a gantry crane, commonly used for deer processing, and her evisceration and dismemberment.”
They executed a search warrant, which led to “physical evidence including the gantry device, cage, and items from the freezer that appeared to be human flesh with a date written on them of 7-24”.
More of the victim's remains were found at a home next door.
She was reported missing in August 2021 by a woman who said she was last seen with Phelps.
Phelps twice told investigators that Ms Rainwater was staying with him but she had left for Colorado, according to court records.
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Phelps’ house later burned to the ground in what investigators determined was arson.
Norton, who faces the same charges as Phelps, is scheduled for a court hearing on Tuesday.
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