A Moberly woman accused of hitting another person in the head with a hammer ran out of a Moberly hospital while awaiting a medical evaluation, setting off a nighttime manhunt that ended with deputies finding her roughly two-tenths of a mile away. Courtney Pingleton now faces a felony assault charge and a misdemeanor escape charge, and she's being held at the Randolph County Jail without bond.
According to court documents cited by ABC17 News, law enforcement was called to a Huntsville address around 6 p.m. on Monday after a report that Pingleton had struck a woman in the head with a hammer. The victim told police that Pingleton was intoxicated, shone a light in her face, and then attacked her after being told to stop, per the same court filing.
Deputies who arrived at the scene reportedly found the victim injured, covered in blood and holding a rag against her head, with a visible knot on the left side of her head, according to KRCG. The victim was taken to a hospital in Columbia for treatment, ABC17 reports. Pingleton, meanwhile, was arrested and taken to a medical facility for an evaluation.
Handcuffs Off, Suspect Runs Toward Highway 63
ABC17 reports that Pingleton claimed self-defense after the victim assaulted her and said she bashed the victim's face, while denying she used a hammer. While at the medical facility, her handcuffs were reportedly removed for an examination, and she ran out of the building. Hospital security footage showed her fleeing toward Highway 63, KRCG reports.
The escape prompted a scramble by Randolph County authorities, as reported by KOMU 8. Nearby residents were warned to brace for a heavy law enforcement presence. Residents were encouraged to secure their homes and vehicles, remain aware of their surroundings, avoid the area and report any suspicious activity by calling 911.
Found on Taylor Street, All-Clear Issued Before Midnight
Officers located Pingleton near Taylor Street in Moberly, about 0.2 miles from the medical facility, at 11:24 p.m. Monday. The Sheriff's Office announced the scene was clear around 11:40 p.m., bringing the hours-long search to a close.
Reports have differed on Pingleton's exact age, with KRCG putting her at 34 and Central Mo Info reporting she is 35; the discrepancy has not been resolved. Per court documents, as reported by KOMU 8, Pingleton is now charged with first-degree felony assault and misdemeanor escaping custody, and her arraignment is scheduled for Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
What Missouri Law Says About the Charges
An enactment of Missouri's statute on first-degree assault cited by the Missouri Revisor of Statutes is effective July 1, 2027; under its wording, the offense is classified as a class B felony unless the person inflicts great bodily harm or the victim qualifies as a special victim, which can elevate the charge. Separately, the state's escape statute, available through the Missouri Revisor of Statutes, says a person commits escape from custody if, while held after an arrest, they escape or attempt to escape. Neither excerpt determines how those statutes apply to Pingleton's specific case.
