My name is Fonda Arnold

The Mother of Eddie Arnold

On February 16 2018 my son was a victim of a shooting.
Here is our story that never made it out of Carroll County.

It was 9:45pm my son had asked if his girlfriend Rita (33) Could stay
the night. I said yes but just one night, I let them sleep in my 7yr old
daughter's room. They went to bed early, I made the pull out for
myself and little one.

We got in at 9:30pm she had fallen asleep when around 9:45 a very
loud knocking on the door, My first thought was it was the Police. I got
up looked out the window and saw an older man standing there, I
asked what he wanted, He then asked if Rita and Eddie we're here. I
opened door and said yes, what is it? He told me that he needed
them to watch his house and animals because he had to leave State
to care for brother who was not doing well and he had to leave that
night and was going to pay them 200 Dollars. This man was Rec
Stacy, whom myself and son were told was Rita's Father (65). Now I
did Investigations for 10 yrs. And nothing he said nor his body
language showed any deception to me. I called out for my son, and
then walked over to open bedroom and said what was going on, my
son came out, Stacy asked "Are you Eddie?" Son said "yes sir" and
was getting his shoes. Stacy asked where Rita was and if he could
talk to her, I let him all the way in. Rita would not get up, My son said
he would go. As they walked out the door Stacy looked back in and
said " I'm sorry you have to be involved in this" I found that a bit
strange, but I was upset because of the time.

It was 10:12-10:15pm when my sister next door was knocking at my

door, her first words were "Eddie's been shot" l asked, Why would
you say that? She said that she heard on scanner that a 35 yr old
male had been shot, I said and there are lots of them here, then she
said yeah but this was at 905 Park St. That's when Rita came out
yelling that was Rex's house! I grabbed the little one and took her
next door and jumped in car.

As we turned the corner 1 mile away I seen, Ambulance, Police, First

Responders. As I was pulling up I noticed a car pulling up beside me
on passenger side, I jumped out and ran to door where I was stopped
by sheriff officer I ask where is my son? He told me he was already
on way to hospital right down the street. As I turned to my car I seen
a women yelling at Rita, I heard her saying how Eddie had brought a
gun to Rex's house and was trying to rob him. I jumped in between
and said that old man came to my home and got my son, the first
responder said your son was with you, I said he was with me in till
Rex came and got him.

I jumped back in car along with Rita and went to hospital. When I got
there I asked to see my son a Police Officer (Sgt Prez) came out, I
said I want to see my son is he ok? I was told to wait and life flight
was already coming, I kept standing at ER doors he came out again
said he was being taken to Trauma Center in Columbia MO he would
talk to me in a minute, he'd said my son had been shot in abdomen. I
could hear life flight. Officer Sgt. Came and asked what I knew, I told
him what happened time and all. He told me to go to Columbia, I
called my mom told her I had to go because Eddie had been shot by
Rita's Father and had her get my little one from sister.

When I arrived at the Trauma Hospital I was informed that he was in

surgery where to go and wait. 6 hrs later Doctor came out to talk to
me. I asked if he was ok was told he's a fighter and the next 48 hrs
they would know more. His injuries we're bad. They had to remove
spleen, repair damage to liver from bullets, remove sections of the
small intestine and remove some of colon, he had to be given blood
transfusion. (16 units of blood products) I could see him in about
45mins but he would be hooked up to ventilater and had tubes and
lines hooked up so be prepared. When I got to him I could feel myself
wanting to fall out. I grabbed his hand both were tied down and asked
if he could hear me, I was told that they were going to keep him under
for first 48hrs. By the next afternoon the doctor told me they were
having trouble keeping him under and it was to dangerous to up
anything anymore because of the length of the time he was in surgery
so they slowly began to let him awake but that he would not
remember anything because he was still being kept as drugged up as
possible.

When they came in to turn him and take blood, I seen he had been
cut from hair line to sternum but I also noticed bandages on back, I
asked about it and that is when I learned he'd been shot twice in
back, not abdomen. They went to take blood and it was clear with a
pinkish tent. I asked why does it look like that, well because due to
blood loss and transfusion but it would go back to normal. That was
the most terrifying experience I have ever been through and little did I
know it was only the beginning of what to come.

I learned along with my son that Rex was not her father but her sugar
daddy. The Police came to interview him for what happened, I was
asked to leave room but mad it clear I had information they needed to
know. They came to me and Rita who finally admitted that she was
more to Rex then they thought and not his daughter like she told us.

We left hospital about 8 or 9 days after, then two days passed and my
son did not look good, I felt him and he was burning up with fever,
took him back to hospital and he was taken by Ambulance back to
Trauma Center where I had to sign papers saying it would be
possible that he had to have a feeding tube and or colostomy bag.
Opened up again and colostomy bag put in place. We again go home
after stay, the investigation still on-going, about 10 days.

I'm sleeping and I am awoken by my son and little one yelling for me
to come to bathroom, where my son sat on shower chair with puss
flowing from incision. I called 911 and again he was transported back
to Columbia where for third time opened up and drain tubes put in
due to infection. At this time I had been calling Police department
daily for updates.

When we got home the last time we were informed that Stacy had
been charged with premeditated attempted murder causing serious
bodily harm using a dangerous weapon (gun). We were also informed
that he could be released. We went to the court house to file
restraining orders. Judge denied to order them, we learned that Stacy
was released on a OR bond. Prior to going to court the first time
about this my son received a text on new phone but same
number as before shooting, It was from Rex Stacy to Rita
thinking he was texting her. The text went on to say that the two
of them needed to get together and talk about getting thier story
straight, and how he was going to leave State after court thing
was done, like no big deal. Before court we showed prosecutor text,
we were informed to go file complaint with PD as soon as court was
done so they could work on getting his bond revoked.

At court Rex Stacy was called and Judge said that Mr. Stacy had
called and was sick and could not make court. (I NEVER KNEW YOU
COULD CALL IN SICK FROM COURT DAY OF) Judge said he would
give continues for later date. Again my son asked for restraining
order, Judge said not necessary due to bond orders. Prosecutor
approached Judge and said he really needs to have one on file,
Judge finally agreed to do so.

With that in hand and text that had been sent we went to PD where
we filled complaint. Capt. Looney who took complaint told us that
Mr. Stacy had been hooked up with a GPS tracker on ankle and
they could pull it right up and would know anything he did. He stated
that with text they could probably get him revoked. We went to court
again and the Judge gave yet another continuance, and yet another
before the next court date.

I had heard that Stacy had left the state, So I went to his house and
neighbor was outside. I asked if she knew anything about him
leaving, she stated that it was a couple days ago, at night. She
thought she seen trucks in his backyard. And he was no longer there I
called Police department to see if they knew about this and was told
they would look into it, It was confirmed he left. When I asked how
could this go undetected with GPS in place, that's when I was
informed he never had one on. I was so angry and shocked that we
had been lied to in this manner.

Court came, and for not showing up he (the judge) put a 10,000.
Dollar warrant out for Rex Stacy. Big deal... I later found out from a
friend that works at Sheriff Department that Stacy was picked up in
South Dakota but Carroll County would not extradite him. I have
gotten copies of probable cause statements that showed that it was
believed that Stacy would not show up for court because he had left
state three times during investigation and had ties to different states
where he could go and when arrested had over $1,600 Dollars in
cash on him. And there had been calls made to police from the
department of ageing that he stated his intent to hurt my son. Text
messages found on phone saying he got a gun and was going to get
my son or anyone else that messed with Rita, and statements to
police that he was going to hurt my son. Prosecutor was against him
being released.

My son has had yet another surgery to reverse colostomy bag leaving
him at very high risk of bowl obstruction full of scar tissue and
adhesions that could not be taken care of because they are so stuck
to his insides. He now has problems with pancreas due to surgeries
and infections, PTSD quality of life has been compromised along with
life expectancy. And Rex Stacy his punishment????? Just leave here
and live your life.

WHERE IS THE
JUSTICE???