A 40-year-old man is facing a first-degree murder charge after his missing father's remains were discovered buried on his property, more than two months after the older man vanished. Richard Scott Saettele is charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree domestic assault and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with the death of his father, 63-year-old Michael Saettele.
Missouri defines first-degree murder as knowingly causing another person’s death after deliberation. The charge is an allegation, not a finding of guilt; prosecutors would have to prove the offense in court. Under Missouri’s first-degree murder statute, an adult convicted of the offense faces either death or life in prison without eligibility for probation or parole, subject to the law and proceedings in the case.
Michael Saettele was last seen on Aug. 15 near Kings Lake Road in Foley, Missouri, according to firstalert4.com. His phone and car were later found at his residence, but he himself was nowhere to be found, prompting a search. The outlet reports that his remains were ultimately found buried on his own property.
Richard Scott Saettele is now being held in the Lincoln County Jail without bond as the case moves forward, the report states. No court date, case number or additional charging details have been made public, and the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said it did not disclose further information beyond confirming the charges.
The other charges have distinct statutory meanings. First-degree domestic assault involves attempting to kill or knowingly causing or attempting to cause great bodily harm to a domestic victim. Armed criminal action applies when a felony is committed with the use or aid of a dangerous instrument or deadly weapon; if a person is convicted, its prison term is generally served in addition to and consecutively to the sentence for the underlying crime. The domestic-assault law and armed-criminal-action statute define those offenses, but the publicly reported charges do not establish what evidence prosecutors will present.
Multiple Agencies Joined the Search and Investigation
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said it received help from a wide network of law enforcement and emergency response agencies as the case developed. Those included the Lincoln County Coroner's Office and the St. Charles County Police Department, including its crime scene investigation unit and crime laboratory, which the sheriff's office thanked for their aid, per the same account.
The sheriff's office also credited the St. Charles County SWAT team, the St. Charles City Police Department, the St. Louis County Cyber Crimes Task Force, St. Louis Fire Department search and rescue K9 teams, and the Wentzville Police Department for their roles in the case. The breadth of that response points to how extensive the search for Michael Saettele became after he disappeared near Kings Lake Road in August.
Family Left Mourning as Few Details Emerge
In its statement, the sheriff's office extended condolences to Michael Saettele's family and loved ones as they grapple with his death. Beyond confirming the charges against his son and detailing which agencies assisted, investigators have not released information about how Michael Saettele died or what led detectives to his property.
The case remains active, with Richard Scott Saettele held without bond at the Lincoln County Jail while the first-degree murder, domestic assault and armed criminal action charges proceed through the legal system.
