McDONALD COUNTY, Mo. — A 34-year-old cold case comes to a close as technology leads authorities to a killer.
The McDonald County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) announced the closure of the “Shawna Garber Case.”
Garber’s remains were found outside an abandoned farmhouse near Lanagan, in December of 1990. Investigators said she had been sexually assaulted and murdered.
Today, authorities announced DNA led them to the man responsible, Talfey Reeves, who lived in McDonald County. He died in a car accident in November 2021.
Then-sheriff and Garber’s sister-in-law explain how it felt to have answers after decades of doubt.
“I’m just happy, I’m content … I finally know. You know … I mean, finally,” said Danielle Pixler, Garber’s half-sister.
“It feels good, it felt great when we identified her and were able to lay her to rest with her family. It feels great to have a suspect and know who did it,” said Mike Hall, former McDonald County Sheriff.
Investigators said though the case has been closed, they will continue to search for more information on Garber’s life, so her memory may live on.
