OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that on July 17, 2017, Gabrielle Shields, DOB: 02-02-1988, formerly of Republic, MO, appeared for sentencing in front of Special Judge R. Craig Carter after having pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree and armed criminal action on April 24, 2017. The Honorable Carter sentenced Shields to a term of LIFE in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the murder in the second degree and to FORTY (40) years in the Missouri Department of Correction for the Armed Criminal Action with the counts to be run consecutively to one another for her role in the death of Christopher Younes.
Two other co-defendants have previously pleaded guilty and been sentenced for their roles in the murder of Mr. Younes. The evidence supported that it was Ms. Shields who instigated the murder, picked up Mr. Younes and ultimately drove him to the location where the three acting together caused Mr. Younes to suffer multiple gun shots wounds and incised wounds.
Murder in the second degree is a class A felony and the range of punishment is 10 years to 30 years or life in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Armed Criminal Action is an unclassified felony and the range of punishment is a term not less than three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. It requires three years to be served before a person is eligible for parole, probation or conditional release.
This case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The prosecution was handled by Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite and First Assistant Kristen Tuohy.