Tamaqua Man Facing First-Degree Murder Charge in Missouri

A Tamaqua man is facing a first-degree murder charge in Missouri after getting picked up by authorities there back on April 21.

The Phelps County (Mo.) Sheriffs Dept. reported back then that they had arrested Josue Martinez, 20, of Tamaqua, and Kimberly Riston, 30, of Banning, Calif., walking near a highway. They’d been spotted by an off-duty corrections officer while she was driving with her husband.

The corrections officer notified a Sullivan (Mo.) police officer who summoned members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol to move in for the arrest. Martinez and Riston were taken into custody without incident, the Sheriffs’ Dept. reports.

Tamaqua Man Charged with Murdering Missouri Man at Motel

Police say Martinez and/or Riston stabbed 36-year-old Donald Coy Wethy Jr. to death at the Economy Inn Motel in St. James, Mo.

They initially responded to that business back on April 21 a little after 8 a.m. That’s where they found Wethy dead from apparent stab wounds. Police then fingered Martinez and Riston as the two responsible for the man’s death. The photos below were distributed showing the two, with a dog as companion, after they were identified as the suspected killers:

After they were arrested, Martinez and Riston were housed in Phelps County Jail while authorities obtained a warrant.

The following day, according to a report from KTVI-TV, they were charged with:

• First-degree murder
• Armed criminal action (2 counts)
• First-degree robbery
• First-degree tampering with a vehicle

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