A Joplin, Missouri man, Freddie Lewis Tilton, has been sentenced to life in federal prison without parole for his involvement in a kidnapping conspiracy that resulted in the torture and death of a victim. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool.
Tilton, also known as "Ol' Boy," pleaded guilty on September 19, 2023, to charges related to the kidnapping conspiracy and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. He received one life term and two ten-year terms, all to be served concurrently.
In another case involving a second victim, Tilton was found guilty at trial on September 17, 2024. He faced charges including conspiracy to commit kidnapping and stalking. For these offenses, he received additional sentences that are concurrent with his life sentence.
The initial case involved the abduction of an individual identified as "M.H." in July 2020. Alongside Tilton were five other defendants who have been sentenced: James B. Gibson ("Gibby") received 30 years; Lawrence William Vaughan ("Scary Larry") got 25 years; Amy Kay Thomas was given 20 years; Carla Jo Ward received ten years; Russell Eugene Hurtt ("Uncle") was sentenced to seven years.
Ward and Vaughan were offered $5,000 each by Tilton to locate M.H., who was later tortured and killed by Tilton and others at Vaughan's residence. After M.H.'s murder, his body was wrapped in plastic wrap and moved to Hurtt's property where it was discovered by law enforcement on July 28, 2020.
Tilton's criminal record includes prior felony convictions for burglary among other crimes which made it illegal for him to possess firearms under federal law.
Before being apprehended for M.H.'s murder, Tilton conspired with Alvin Dale Boyer from Rogers, Arkansas in another kidnapping incident involving a woman identified as "S.T." This took place on July 19, 2020 at Boonslick Lodge in Neosho where S.T., who had an order of protection against Tilton, was assaulted but managed to escape when police arrived.
Boyer rented the motel room where S.T. was attacked by Tilton using various items found later by officers during their investigation.
These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller with investigations conducted by the FBI along with local law enforcement agencies including Newton County Sheriff’s Office and Neosho Police Department.