Palmyra man facing second-degree murder charges

Charges related to running over Hannibal man with SUV

November 12, 2023 71

HANNIBAL, Mo. — A Palmyra man is facing second-degree murder charges after allegedly running over a Hannibal man with an SUV on Wednesday night and killing him. Ralls County Judge David Mobley issued a warrant on Thursday for the arrest of Randall Lee Hendricks, 36, of Palmyra. He is being held in the Marion County Jail. No bond has been set.

According to a probable cause statement submitted by Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Barbara Littrell, Hendricks contacted NECOMM 9-1-1 dispatch at 7:55 p.m. Wednesday and said he had just been in a physical altercation with Matthew L. Wagner, 43, of Hannibal, at Wagner’s home.

(Wagner’s name was redacted from the probable cause statement, but officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed Wagner was the person who was killed.)

He said Wagner jumped in front of his SUV, a blue Saturn Vue, and was pinned underneath the car. Hendricks said he had been trying to use a jack to lift the car but was unsuccessful.

Ralls County deputies arrived on the scene and saw Wagner underneath the SUV parked on the driveway of a residence on Hydesburg Road. Hendricks told deputies he accidentally ran over Wagner.

However, evidence at the scene indicated Hendricks drove the SUV with the purpose of causing serious injury to Wagner. The vehicle initially traveled south through the yard of the residence, drove down an embankment, and came to rest in the road facing north.

Wagner was taken by ambulance to Hannibal Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Hendricks was placed into custody at 8:05 p.m.

Hendricks later told investigators he had been dating Wagner’s ex-wife, Jennifer Wagner, for approximately the last six years. He said Jennifer Wagner was outside the residence and saw when Matthew Wagner was struck by the vehicle.

Hendricks also said he and Matthew Wagner frequently got into verbal arguments and had a physical altercation approximately four years ago. He said he had previously threatened Matthew Wagner with bodily harm or death. He said it was possible Matthew Wagner went under the front left tire of the vehicle as he made a left turn into the yard toward a gravel road.

Jennifer Wagner told investigators she saw Hendricks and Matthew Wagner get into a verbal altercation outside the residence. She said it was dusk when Hendricks arrived at Matthew Wagner’s home. She said Matthew Wagner walked toward the front of Hendricks’ vehicle. She observed the vehicle in forward motion as Matthew Wagner was “one or two feet” in front of the vehicle.

Jennifer Wagner said she looked away momentarily, and when she looked back, Matthew Wagner was being dragged underneath the vehicle as it traveled from the grass to a ditch, where it came to rest in the road.

Ralls County Sheriff Brad Stinson confirmed Jennifer Wagner was arrested on an outstanding probation charge. She also is in the Marion County Jail.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control provided assistance.