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Hooper convicted of 2016 murder
On April 28, Prosecuting Attorney Jereme Lytle reported that Lisa Hooper had been found guilty of first degree murder and armed criminal action by a Butler County jury.
The event occurred on May 9, 2016 when officers were dispatched to 404 South 5th Street in Hayti. Officers arrived to find John Thomas, 28, shot in the back of the head. Hooper was at the scene, holding Thomas’ head stating her gun had accidentally gone off, shooting him.
As officers took control of the scene, Brandon Hamm asked to speak with officers, during this time he told the officer that he had been in the back seat of the vehicle when he heard a loud noise followed by a flash of orange light, and stated Hooper had killed Thomas. Evidence at the scene did not match Hooper’s story but did indeed match what Hamm was saying.
After an investigation, it was found that Hooper and Thomas had been in an on and off relationship. Hamm stated that on that evening, the two had been arguing because Hooper had sent nude photos to another man. Hamm said Thomas told Hooper he no longer felt the same way for her and that he wanted her out of his life and was taking her back to her vehicle. Hooper then shot Thomas in the head while they just beyond the intersection of 7th and Monroe.
The case was tried by County Prosecuting Attorney Jereme Lytle and Assistant Prosecutor Michael Anderson with assistance from the Hayti Police Department, Pemiscot County Sherriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.