Former Bourbon Man To Be Tried For Murder In September

A former Bourbon man accused of taking part in the murder of an elderly woman is set to be tried this September.

Joseph Proffer, 23, has a jury trial scheduled in Phelps County Sept. 13-16.

Proffer is the co-defendant in the murder of Barbara Lynn, who was murdered in her Birch Tree home April 2, 2020.

Proffer and Stanley Kenaga, 31, allegedly broke into Lynn’s home, killed her and set fire to the residence.

Authorities found Lynn’s remains in the hallway and after an investigation, arrested Kenaga.

The Shannon County Sheriff’s Department began looking for Proffer and said that he could have been in the Bourbon area.

Proffer was located April 16, 2020.

He was held on a no-bond warrant.

The probable cause statement said Lynn was beaten and strangled to death.

During an interview, Kenaga allegedly admitted that he and Proffer knew Lynn had withdrawn $20,000 from a bank account. The cash was reportedly located in the residence.

Kenaga said they planned to break into the home, find the money and split it. The pair allegedly surveilled Lynn’s home several times and believed it was unoccupied the night of the burglary.

Kenaga allegedly told the Missouri State Highway Patrol they broke through the back door and realized someone was home. He said Lynn confronted Proffer, who proceeded to body slam, strangle and kill her.

Kenaga said Proffer set fire to the residence.

Proffer is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, second-degree arson and two counts of abandonment of a corpse.

He also faces unrelated charges in Texas County for passing a bad check, felony theft and forgery.

Proffer requested a change of venue from Shannon County to Phelps County.

Kenaga has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, second-degree arson, abandonment of a corpse and felony theft.

His case has been transferred to Howell County