A homeless man has been charged in connection with the fatal beating of Paul Doughty outside a convenience store on U.S. 24 highway early Monday.
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced William R. Godfrey, 40, has been charged with second-degree murder.
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According to court records, Independence Police Department officers were dispatched about 2:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, to a 7-Eleven in the 200 block of U.S. 24 Highway in Independence.
When police arrived, two men were lying on the ground or on crates outside the business, both unresponsive.
One of the men, later identified as Godfrey, was clutching a pack of cigarettes in a hand covered in dry blood.
The victim, later identified 53-year-old Paul Doughty, was found nearby covered in blood with lacerations on his forehead.
A clerk told police he was taking out the trash when he saw the two men and called the police.
According to the news release, Godfrey told police he and Doughty were sitting near the dumpsters at 7-Eleven drinking alcohol when Doughty said he wanted to stop drinking for the night.
Godfrey stated he became upset because he didn’t want to stop drinking and go home. Godfrey stated he struck the victim several times with a crate and kicked him in the chest and head with his steel toed boots, according to the news release.
Prosecutors have requested a bond of $150,000 cash.
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