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A judge in Dallas County, Missouri, sentenced a second man to life in prison after pleading guilty to the first-degree murder of Cassidy Rainwater, whose remains were found in a home after she was photographed in a cage partially clothed.
Timothy Norton was sentenced on Tuesday and as part of his plea deal, the charges of leaving a corpse and kidnapping were dropped.
A second man, James Phelps, entered an Alford plea in April, acknowledging that there was enough evidence to convict him of first-degree murder, kidnapping and leaving a corpse behind, without admitting guilt.
Both men were charged with killing Rainwater, 33, in September 2021 after DNA analysis of the remains found in Phelps’ home identified her as the victim.
MISSOURI MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR DEATH OF CAGED AND REDUCED WOMAN
Timothy Norton, left, and James Phelps (Dallas County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office)
The FBI provided investigators with photographs on Sept. 16, which showed Rainwater’s body tied to a gantry crane, used primarily for deer processing. The photos also showed her “evisceration and dismemberment,” the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department said in a social media post at the time.
The remnants of rainwater were found in a freezer with “7-24” written on it, as well as an adjacent property.
Digital evidence recovered during the investigation showed that Phelps and Norton planned Rainwater’s death, the sheriff’s office said.
A woman who first reported Rainwater missing on August 25, 2021, told law enforcement that Rainwater was last seen with Phelps in July 2021.
MISSOURI WOMAN PARTIALLY DRESSED IN CAGE PHOTOGRAPHED BEFORE BEING DESTRUCTED, AUTHORITIES SAY
Cassidy Rainwater (Dallas County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office)
When questioned, Phelps told investigators that Rainwater stayed with him until she could get back on her feet, adding that she was going to Chicago.
A month before she disappeared, Phelps said, Rainwater encountered a person in a vehicle at the end of his driveway in the middle of the night.
Norton told FBI agents that Rainwater was asleep when he visited Phelps. The sheriff said Norton kept her legs down while Phelps choked her and placed a plastic bag over her head.
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The two men then took Rainwater’s dead body outside, hung her from the gantry crane and dismembered her body, Norton told investigators.
After Tuesday’s sentencing, Norton told local channel KYTV that he deserved to die. He also reportedly said that he and Phelps thought Rainwater stole items from them and they wanted their items back. Then things went “sideways” at the Phelps house, he added.
Phelps’ home was destroyed by a fire on October 4, which was ruled arson.
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Firefighters reported that two explosive devices were found near the house, made with mortar tubes and balloon covers with tripwires attached.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
