Warrant issued for Purdy man who allegedly helped dispose of body

By Kyle Troutman ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Charges have been filed against a third individual allegedly involved in the murder of Marvin Lance McCullough in March.

Nathan Bates, born 1986, of Purdy, is charged with abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

Previously charged with murdering McCullough and disposing of his body were Brandy Coburn, 34, of Verona, and Jimmy Taylor, 46, of Exeter, each charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Billy Forester, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, on May 27, in a post-Miranda interview, Bates said he received a phone call, on a date he could not recall, from Coburn, stating she needed him to come to her residence, a camper. He said when he arrived, Coburn told him she had shot McCullough in back of the head, and Taylor, who was also present in the residence when Bates arrived, said Coburn had shot McCullough.

During the interview with the Forester, Bates allegedly admitted he went to Coburn’s residence three days in a row to help her, knowing McCullough was deceased in her camper. On the third day, Bates said, he helped Taylor move McCullough from the camper to the trunk of McCullough’s vehicle. 

Bates allegedly said he then hooked a chain to the vehicle and used his truck to two car off the property to a location on Farm Road 1170, where he alleged Taylor set the vehicle on fire.

“Nathan completed a voluntary statement wherein he recorded his version of the events and his involvement in disposing of [McCullough’s] body,” Forester’s statement said.

A warrant for Bates’ arrest was issued on Thursday, and he was arrested on Friday. Bond has been set at $100,000, cash only.

Coburn and Taylor both remain in the Barry County jail on no bond. Bond hearings were held for each on April 3, with Taylor being denied bond and Coburn’s attorney waving the right to argue for a change.