STATE OF MISSOURI

VS
Bowens, Joseph Bernard
DIV #:
CA#: 510666882
CAUSE#:
DESTINATION: GRAND JURY (AT LARGE)
DEFENDANT INFORMATION
ADDRESS: 6XX Lindsay
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
PEDIGREE: RACE: B
DOB: XX/XX/1971
HGT: 5'10"
SEX: M
AGE: 43
WGT: 160
ID #s:
COMPLAINT#: 150002171
LID:
ARREST#:
DIST: SLMPD
OCN:
ALIASES: Joe Bowens
SSNs: XXX-XX-XXXX

STATE OF MISSOURI )
CITY OF ST. LOUIS
)SS

COMPLAINT

The Circuit Attorney of the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, upon information and belief,
charges that
Count 1:
Murder 1st Degree
ON 1/15/2015 Time: Place: 2111 Sulpher

(Class A FELONY) RSMo 565.020

(SCC 10021)

The defendant, in violation of Section 565.020, RSMo, committed the class A felony of murder in
the first degree punishable upon conviction under Section 565.020, RSMo, in that on or about January
15, 2015, in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, the defendant after deliberation, knowingly caused
the death of Scott Knopfel by shooting him.

Count 2:
Armed Criminal Action
ON 1/15/2015 Time: Place: 2111 Sulpher

(FELONY) RSMo 571.015

(SCC 31010)

The defendant, in violation of Section 571.015, RSMo, committed the felony of armed criminal
action, punishable upon conviction under Section 571.015.1, RSMo, in that on or about January 15,
2015, in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, the defendant committed the felony of Murder in
the First Degree charged in Count I, all allegations of which are incorporated herein by reference, and
the defendant committed the foregoing felony of Murder in the First Degree by, with and through, the
knowing use, assistance and aid of a deadly weapon.

Count 3:
Robbery 1st Degree
ON 1/15/2015 Time: Place: 2111 Sulpher

(Class A FELONY) RSMo 569.020

(SCC 12010)

The defendant, in violation of Section 569.020, RSMo, committed the class A felony of robbery in
the first degree, punishable upon conviction under Section 558.011, RSMo, in that on or about January
15, 2015, in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, the defendant forcibly stole US Currency in the
possession of Drury Inn and Suites, and in the course thereof the defendant displayed and threatened
the use of what appeared to be a deadly weapon.

Count 4:
Armed Criminal Action
ON 1/15/2015 Time: Place: 2111 Sulpher

(FELONY) RSMo 571.015

(SCC 31010)

The defendant, in violation of Section 571.015, RSMo, committed the felony of armed criminal
action, punishable upon conviction under Section 571.015.1, RSMo, in that on or about January 15,
2015, in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, the defendant committed the felony of Robbery in the
First Degree charged in Count III, all allegations of which are incorporated herein by reference, and the
defendant committed the foregoing felony of Robbery in the First Degree by, with and through, the
knowing use, assistance and aid of a deadly weapon.

The facts that form the basis for this information and belief are contained in the attached
statement(s) of facts, made a part hereof and submitted as a basis upon which this court may find the
existence of probable cause.
Wherefore, the Circuit Attorney prays that an arrest warrant be issued as provided by law.
Jennifer M. Joyce
Circuit Attorney of the City of St. Louis,
State of Missouri
By __(original signed)_____________________
Assistant Circuit Attorney

PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT

DATE: January 18, 2015

I, Michael Herzberg DSN 5321, knowing that false statements on this form are punishable by law,
state that the facts contained herein are true.
1. I have probable cause to believe that Joseph Bernard Bowens, a Black Male DOB: XX/XX/71 Age:
43, committed one or more criminal offense(s).
Count 1:
Murder In The First Degree
(Class A FELONY) RSMo 565.020
ON 1/15/2015 Time: Place: 2111 Sulpher
(SCC 10021)
Count 2:
Armed Criminal Action
(FELONY) RSMo 571.015
ON 1/15/2015 Time: Place: 2111 Sulpher

(SCC 31010)

Count 3:
Robbery 1st Degree
(Class A FELONY) RSMo 569.020
ON 1/15/2015 Time: Place: 2111 Sulpher

(SCC 12010)

Count 4:
Armed Criminal Action
(FELONY) RSMo 571.015
ON 1/15/2015 Time: Place: 2111 Sulpher

(SCC 31010)

2. The facts supporting this belief are as follows:

The victim, Scott Knopfel, was the night manager of the Drury Inn and Suites. Police were called to
the Drury Inn and Suites at approximately 2:55am. When police arrived, they discovered Mr. Knopfel
deceased behind the front desk. Mr. Knopfel was killed by two gunshots, one to the chest and one to
the head. Surveillance video was able to capture the last minutes of Mr. Knopfels life. In the video,
the defendant approaches the front desk and engages Mr. Knopfel in conversation for approximately
one full minute. The defendant then pulls a revolver from his pants and points it at Mr. Knopfel. The
defendant vaults over the front desk. Mr. Knopfel opens a drawer that contains US Currency and the
defendant is seen bending over it, appearing to take something out of it. When police arrive, there is
nothing but change left in the drawer that should contain paper US Currency. Police also found
change on the ground. The defendant then shoots the victim in the chest, a struggle ensues and the
defendant shoots the victim in the head, killing him. The defendant flees out the front door. Parts of
the surveillance video are then released to the public, in hopes that someone will recognize the
murderer. The SLMPD received a phone call from the Caruthersville Police Department with
information as to the identity of the defendant. Both the Caruthersville Police Department and the
Poplar Bluff Police Department have had numerous dealings with the defendant in the past. With the
help of the Poplar Bluff Police Department, the defendant was taken into custody. During a search of
a home used by the defendant, police found some articles of clothing that the shooter was believed to
have been wearing during the murder, including the leather jacket. I met the defendant while he was
in custody, and he appears to be the same person that I saw in the video. I interviewed the
defendants mother; she told me that she believes that the person in the surveillance video is her son.
In addition, a historical GPS trace of the defendants cell phone revealed the phone to be at the
vicinity of Sulpher and Hampton during the time of the murder.
Michael Herzberg Dsn 5321
PRINT NAME

(original signed)
SIGNATURE

The defendant has the following prior convictions:

On July 23, 2009 the defendant was convicted of Felon in Possession of a Firearm in United States District Court and
placed on supervised release. The defendant violated his supervised release twice.
On May 13, 1997 the defendant was convicted of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in Boone County, State of Missouri,
and
On May 5, 1997, the defendant was convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance in Boone Co. Circuit Court, State
of Missouri, and
On June 1, 2000, the defendant was convicted of Assault in the Third Degree in Jackson County Circuit Court, State of
Missouri, and
On October 2002, the defendant was convicted of Tampering in the First Degree in Pemiscot County, State of Missouri,
and
On June 1, 2006, the defendant was convicted of Passing a Bad Check less than $500 in Pemiscot County, State of
Missouri, and
On January 1, 2010, the defendant was convicted of Robbery in the Second Degree in Mississippi County Circuit Court,
State of Missouri, and
On January 1, 2010, the defendant was convicted of DWI- felony in Mississippi County Circuit Court, State of Missouri,
and
On January 1, 2010, the defendant was convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance in Mississippi County Circuit
Court, State of Missouri, and
On January 1, 2010, the defendant was convicted of possession a Controlled Substance in a County/Private Jail without a
Prescription in Mississippi County Circuit Court, State of Missouri.