Murder charge against Wilson dismissed

The first degree murder charge against Darrell L. Wilson of Gallatin was dismissed July 22 by Daviess County Prosecuting Attorney Julia Filley, prior to the preliminary hearing which was to be held that afternoon. The case is now sealed.

According to a press release from Prosecuting Attorney Filley, “After extensive consultation with the Attorney General’s Office, which included a review of all evidence, including new evidence since the filing of the charge, it would no longer appear that charges against this individual are appropriate at this time. The information available to this office has called into question issues of responsibility as well as the sufficiency of the evidence. The matter is still under investigation and if additional information comes to light, the possibility of charges against any culpable party, or parties, may be considered at that time.”

The murder charge had been filed more than a year after Wilson’s son Drew, age 5, drowned in a bathtub on April 6, 2002. The death was ruled an accident at the time.

The murder charge was filed May 1, 2003, after a probable cause report was filed by an investigator with the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team. At the time the charge was filed, Wilson was held at Ray County Security Housing without the possibility of bail. Wilson has been free on $50,000 bond since June 5.