Probable cause: Joplin woman stuffed her husband, who died nearly a year ago, in the freezer

According to the probable cause statement, a Joplin woman stuffed her dead husband in a freezer in her bedroom, resulting in a felony charge of abandonment of a corpse.

An arrest warrant was issued earlier today for Barbara Watters, 67, who is still at large at this writing, with her bond set at $100,000 cash only.

From the probable cause statement:

On or about 11-11-2019, police received information that Paul N Barton died on December 30th, 2018 and was being kept by his wife, Barbara Watters, in a freezer in her bedroom at 2602 S Vermont Ave, Joplin, Jasper County MO. 

 On 11-12-2019, police executed a search warrant at 2602 S Vermont Ave. 

A deceased human body was discovered stored in a freezer in Barbara Watters bedroom. 

 Jasper and Newton County Coroners were contacted and had no records of Paul N Barton being reported as deceased. 

In a news release issued late this afternoon, the Joplin Police Department asked anyone with knowledge of Watters' whereabouts to contact the JPD or other local law enforcement immediately.

The discovery of Barton's body came while JPD investigators were canvassing the neighborhood for information on an arson investigation of a fire at 2605 S. New Hampshire Avenue.

An autopsy is being scheduled for Barton, according to the news release.

The photos below show her vehicle of the type of her last known car and the license plate.