Dawn Capstick Dies in Festus Home; Husband Faces First-Degree and Armed Criminal Action Charges

 A fatal shooting in Jefferson County, Missouri, has left a family grieving after 56-year-old Dawn M. Capstick was found dead at her home near Festus on Thursday, November 5. Authorities say her husband, 55-year-old Todd Michael Capstick, fled after the shooting and was later arrested, facing charges in connection with her death.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, a female relative was speaking with Dawn during a video call shortly before the emergency response. During the conversation, Dawn reportedly made a remark about a shooting. Her phone then appeared to fall to the floor, and Todd briefly came into view on the screen. The call was subsequently muted and paused, leaving the relative alarmed by what she had witnessed. Unable to determine whether Dawn was safe, the family member contacted emergency services and requested that deputies check on her welfare.

A Jefferson County deputy was dispatched to the residence in the 3100 block of U.S. Highway 61 shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday. The deputy arrived at approximately 9:15 a.m. and found Dawn in a bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the probable-cause statement. The deputy began lifesaving efforts while emergency assistance was sought, but Dawn was pronounced dead at the scene. The discovery transformed a family member’s urgent request for help into a homicide investigation, with investigators working to establish what had happened inside the home.

Investigators later reviewed security-camera footage from the residence, which reportedly provided information about the couple’s movements. According to the probable-cause statement, Dawn was seen entering the home through the garage, followed by Todd. About 22 minutes later, footage showed Todd leaving through the garage while allegedly carrying a black-and-silver handgun. He was then seen placing the weapon in his pants pocket before getting into a Ford pickup and driving away. These details are allegations described by investigators and have not been tested in court.

Authorities began working to locate the pickup as the investigation developed. At approximately 9:26 a.m., an analyst with the sheriff’s office used the Flock Safety camera network to identify the vehicle traveling south on Interstate 55 in Ste. Genevieve County. Investigators alerted nearby law-enforcement agencies and sought assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service in the Cape Girardeau area. The information helped officers track the vehicle across county lines as they coordinated efforts to find Todd and take him into custody.

U.S. marshals located the pickup and conducted a traffic stop in Cape Girardeau County. Todd was arrested at approximately 10:01 a.m., less than an hour after the deputy first arrived at the home, according to authorities. Investigators reported that a handgun matching the description of the weapon seen in the home’s security footage was found in the truck. Todd was initially held by the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office before Jefferson County detectives transported him to the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro.

Jefferson County prosecutors charged Todd Michael Capstick, 55, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He is being held without bond, the sheriff’s office said. The charges represent formal accusations, not a determination of guilt; he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing. Officials have also not released information that would explain what preceded the violence or whether there had been earlier warning signs.

As the criminal case proceeds, Dawn’s relatives are left to grieve a sudden loss. The video call that prompted the welfare check became a painful final connection. Her family now faces the days ahead while investigators continue seeking answers and wait for answers about the shooting.