Charges Filed in Bunker Man’s Death

A Bunker man was found dead last week of an apparent gunshot wound in rural Reynolds County. A teenager has been charged in the death.

Nicholas A. Barton, 19, is charged with second-degree murder and delivery of a controlled substance. His bond was set at $1 million. He was incarcerated in the Reynolds County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon.

A deputy with the Reynolds County Sheriff’s Office discovered the body of Cameron D. Hill, 43, lying facedown on the ground Sunday next to a vehicle off Reynolds County Road 844, according to the case’s probably cause report. The report says the deputy was alerted after receiving a request to check the wellbeing of a man seen lying on the ground at that location.

During the investigation the report says it was discovered that Barton has arranged to sell a quantity of prescription Oxycodone to a known individual. It details Barton attempted to meet with that subject, but instead made contact with Hill. Barton allegedly fired several shots during an ensuing confrontation which resulted in Hill’s death.

An autopsy was conducted Tuesday, April 24, at the St. Francois County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation was conducted by the sheriff’s department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is under way.

A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for May 22.