An Endangered Person Advisory was issued on February 27 for three persons- including two small children- from Greene County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, missing were 40-year-old Darrell Peak, 4-year-old Kaiden Peak and 3-year-old Mayson Peak.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported the adult and two children were found deceased in a structure on Monday, March 1. The three were discovered deceased not far from where they were last observed and contacted by law enforcement in the Warsaw area 16 hours prior to the missing persons’ report with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office released a brief timeline of events for clarity:
• February 25 at approximately 4 p.m. – Last seen near the family home in Greene County as Darrell drove away with the children armed with the pistol he was known to regularly carry.
• February 25 at approximately 5:30 p.m. – Contacted by a MSHP Trooper in Benton County who stopped to check on their disabled vehicle. Darrell refused assistance.
• February 25 at approximately 5:52 p.m. – Benton County Deputy observed a man and two children walking along Highway 65. When she turned around to make contact, she was unable to locate them again and presumed they disappeared into a wooded area.
• February 25 at approximately 7 p.m. – MSHP dispatched a Trooper to the area to check on a man walking along the highway with two children. The Trooper was unable to locate them when he arrived.
• February 26 at approximately 10:30 a.m. – Family members contacted the Greene County Sheriff’s Office to file a missing person report. Family reported that Darrell had a history of depression, however insisted that he would never harm his children.
• February 26 at approximately 12:58 p.m. – Statewide BOLO alert sent out for the three missing persons.
• February 26 at approximately 1:01 p.m. – Missing Persons information entered into the system.
• February 26 at approximately 1:24 p.m. – Upon learning of the missing person investigation, MSHP Troopers and Benton County Deputies responded and searched the areas where Darrell, Mayson and Kaiden were repeatedly observed during the evening of February 25.
• March 1 – The bodies of all three missing persons were found together inside a structure.
Greene County Detectives have worked around the clock since the report was made attempting to locate Darrell Peak and his children. Dozens of leads were generated, and despite the family’s belief that Darrell would not harm his children, on February 28, Detectives decided to pursue criminal charges for the arrest of Darrell, hoping that this would generate additional tips and leads.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are conducting the death investigation.
Photos courtesy the Missouri State Highway Patrol.