Kennett man appears in court for alleged matricide: No bond granted

KENNETT, Mo. - A city man accused of matricide and more in connection to the New Year's Eve shooting death of his mother appeared here in court Thursday.

Tommy Joe Lloyd, 44, of 1915 Lynndale St., Kennett, shuffled slowly into a packed Courtroom B, his jet-black hair and utterly pale complexion a stark contrast from his faded gray-and-white striped jail uniform.

Clay Bullard, a court-appointed attorney at the Dunklin County Justice Center at Kennett inquired about bond for Lloyd and 35th Judicial District Circuit Court Associate Judge John Spielman denied the request.

"I'm not setting a bond," Spielman told the attorney, who towered over Lloyd.

The accused murderer, who is alleged to have shot and killed his mother Linda Faye Lloyd, 67, also of the Lynndale Street address, leaned slightly away from his counsel as they stood at a wooden lectern facing the bench, and Spielman continued.

"With what he's charged with, I'm not setting a bond," Spielman noted.

Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain on Jan. 1, 2025, charged Tommy Joe Lloyd with felony first-degree murder and felony armed criminal action; felony second-degree murder as an alternative to first degree murder and felony armed criminal action; and felony unlawful possession of a firearm, in connection to his mother's alleged homicide, according to court records.

Jain also asked that Tommy Joe Lloyd be remanded into the custody of Dunklin County Sheriff Nick Darter and incarcerated at the Dunklin County Jail without bond while the wheels of justice turn regarding the matter.

The prosecutor's no-bond request indicated, “defendant shot and killed his mother, which makes him a danger to the community,” and “based on the sentences he faces,” he is a flight risk.

“He also admitted to law enforcement that he was habitually drugged,” Jain wrote. “He also committed these offenses while he was out on bond for various drug-related offenses in Clay County, Arkansas.”

Spielman decided in favor of the prosecutor and granted that request clearly on Thursday.

Regarding the allegations against Tommy Joe Lloyd, a probable cause affidavit (PCA) submitted by a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator shed a bright spotlight on alleged heinous crimes.

Master Sgt. JD Johnson on Jan. 1, 2025, indicated Linda Lloyd at approximately 6:10 p.m. on Dec. 31, phoned a son and told him his brother, Tommy Joe Lloyd had a gun to his head.

Johnson's PCA stated the caller heard Tommy Joe Lloyd tell Linda Lloyd he was sorry, that the call ended abruptly and that he tried to reach Linda Lloyd a number of times afterward, but the calls went unanswered.

Kennett Police Department officers responded to the single-story, ranch-style home, where a car and a pickup truck were parked in the drive.

Neighbors said it's a quiet subdivision.

Another said he was startled by the explosive reports of gunfire that New Year's Eve, and that there was no mistaking the sound for fireworks.

“The body of Mrs. Lloyd was found on the floor of the living room of the residence, apparently suffering from a gunshot wound entering her neck and exiting the back of her head,” Johnson wrote. “A .45 caliber handgun belonging to Tommy Lloyd was found at the scene and recovered.”

And Tommy Joe Lloyd apologized as he was taken into custody and shuttled away from the house by officers, Johnson's report stated.

The defendant in a subsequent interview, “admitted to shooting his mom, but could not provide a definitive reason as to why she was shot,” according to the PCA.

“At the time of the homicide, Tommy Lloyd was out on bond from a possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute charge in Clay County, Ark.,” Johnson reported, and he requested a felony arrest warrant.

A search of Arkansas court records returned and indicated Lloyd was arrested in late September at Piggott, Ark., for DUI and an assortment of drug possession and paraphernalia charges.

His cases there were pending when the alleged homicide was committed.

On Jan. 1, 2025, Spielman issued the Dunklin County arrest warrant that listed all charges.

The New Year's Eve alleged slaying was the county's second murder of 2024, the first being that of a small child who ingested methamphetamine on Jan. 4, 2024, at Gobler, Jain said.

The city's last homicide occurred on Aug. 30, 2023, when a 14-year-old assailant stabbed a 33-year-old Kennett man in the 900 block of Henderson Street, Jain told The Delta Dunklin Democrat.

Spielman Thursday continued Lloyd's case until Feb. 6, when he's expected to appear before the judge for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. at the Dunklin County Justice Center, 1175 Floyd St., Kennett.

Matricide, the killing of one's mother is rare, and is true in less than 2 percent of all murders in the United States, according to crime statistics.

Generally, one or both parties involved in the crimes suffered from sorts of diagnosed mental duress and were under the care of professionals, reports indicated.

This is a developing story.

For further information, please see the DDD's initial account by searching this site for Murder on Lynndale Street.