Police: Man admits to beating parents with baseball bat - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Police: Man admits to beating parents with baseball bat

Posted: Updated:
Jen Baird - email
Todd Tumminia - bio | email
Matthew Jenkins (Source: Poplar Bluff Police Department) Matthew Jenkins (Source: Poplar Bluff Police Department)
Police responded to the assault complaint on Wilson Street. Police responded to the assault complaint on Wilson Street.

  • Heartland News

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:06 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:06:52 GMT
    You might think it’s a problem in foreign countries, or big cities, but the SEMO Rescue and Restore Coalition said human trafficking is a problem in the Heartland.“Human trafficking is happening in our own backyards,” said Sandra Self with the coalition.“It’s hard for us because we’re kind of, we think we’re insulated, here in the Midwest, you know in the middle of the country thinking that would never happen around here, but unfortunately it does,” said Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.“We g...
    You might think it’s a problem in foreign countries, or big cities, but the SEMO Rescue and Restore Coalition said human trafficking is a problem in the Heartland.“Human trafficking is happening in our own backyards,” said Sandra Self with the coalition.“It’s hard for us because we’re kind of, we think we’re insulated, here in the Midwest, you know in the middle of the country thinking that would never happen around here, but unfortunately it does,” said Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter.“We g...

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:58 PM EDT2013-05-23 00:58:57 GMT
    A Jackson County family was stunned after learning their dog was shot and killed by police.Authorities aren’t talking, but the family is.“I was just thinking how could somebody do that to me and just leave him in my yard for me to come home and find,” Tilley said.Brittney Tilley and her dad never expected they would bury their two-year-old dog Boots so soon.The beagle and lab mix was found shot in the head on Sunday. Days later, they still don’t know what drove someone to kill the dog.“A deci...
    A Jackson County family was stunned after learning their dog was shot and killed by police.Authorities aren’t talking, but the family is.“I was just thinking how could somebody do that to me and just leave him in my yard for me to come home and find,” Tilley said.Brittney Tilley and her dad never expected they would bury their two-year-old dog Boots so soon.The beagle and lab mix was found shot in the head on Sunday. Days later, they still don’t know what drove someone to kill the dog.“A deci...

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:54 PM EDT2013-05-22 23:54:34 GMT
    A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is gearing up for a repair project on the U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill., that will impact truck traffic this summer.According to KYTC, trucks will be have to be rerouted for approximately 70 days beginning after June 24.KYTC District 1 spokesman Keith Todd said the agency wants truckers and suppliers who depend in the bridge to be aware of the coming project.“This project involves repairs on bridge deck s...
    A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is gearing up for a repair project on the U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill., that will impact truck traffic this summer.According to KYTC, trucks will be have to be rerouted for approximately 70 days beginning after June 24.KYTC District 1 spokesman Keith Todd said the agency wants truckers and suppliers who depend in the bridge to be aware of the coming project.“This project involves repairs on bridge deck s...
    •   
POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KFVS) -

Poplar Bluff police say the evidence now points to the son of a couple found brutally beaten in their own home.

Matthew D. Jenkins, 27, of Poplar Bluff was charged Wednesday afternoon with two counts of felony assault first degree-serious bodily injury and two counts of felony armed criminal action.

Officers with the Poplar Bluff Police Department responded to the assault complaint on Wilson Street Tuesday around 12:33 p.m.

Matthew Jenkins reportedly told police that he came home to find his parents, Carl Jenkins and Vicki Jenkins both of Poplar Bluff, had been severely beaten. 

It only took a matter of hours before Matthew Jenkins went from 911 caller to primary suspect.

"We started interviewing family and friends and discovered that Matthew, the son of Carl and Vickie had some major inconsistencies in his story as the reporter, he was the reporting party," said Poplar Bluff Deputy Chief Jeff Rolland. "In this case, it was Matt's mom and dad. The weight of that on him was becoming increasing overbearing. So he had to deal with that."

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol's probable cause statement, Matthew Jenkins confessed to hitting his parents. 

"In this one, we went outside," said Rolland. "We used trained investigators from the department of family services. They have special skills in interviewing children- that was crucial in this."

The probable cause statement shows that Vicki Jenkins was hit two times in the head and Carl Jenkins four times in the head with an aluminum baseball bat following an argument.

Matthew Jenkins reportedly tried to give his parents first aid and then called 911.

Carl and Vicki Jenkins had severe head wounds and were taken by EMS to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Both were stabilized and Vicki Jenkins was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Carl Jenkins was taken to St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. Both were listed in critical condition.

Police say Matthew Jenkins' brother was also interviewed, but ruled out as a suspect.

The Butler County Major Case Squad was activated and all available investigators with the Poplar Bluff Police Department, the Butler County Sheriff's Office, the Butler County Coroner's Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control were called to the scene. 

Matthew Jenkins was in the Butler County Jail with no bond.

Copyright 2013 KFVS. All rights reserved.