Missouri man sentenced to life for death of caged and dismembered woman

A Dallas County, Missouri, man charged with murdering a woman whose remains were found in a home after she was photographed while partially clothed in a cage has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to reports.

FOX 4 in Kansas City, Missouri reported that James Phelps, 60, entered an Alford plea on Friday, acknowledging there is enough evidence to convict him of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and abandonment of a corpse, without admitting guilt.

Phelps and Timothy Norton were both accused of killing 33-year-old Cassie Rainwater in September 2021 after DNA analysis of the remains found at Phelps’ home identified the victim.

MISSOURI WOMAN PHOTOGRAPHED PARTIALLY CLOTHED IN CAGE BEFORE BEING DISMEMBERED, AUTHORITIES SAY

Photos provided to investigators by the FBI on Sept. 16 showed Rainwater’s body bound to ...