Town & Country resident charged with murder

 By DAN FOX

 

The St. Louis County Police Department announced March 20 that warrants had been issued for the arrest of Town & Country resident William Lynn Gunter, 59, on charges of murder in the first degree.

On March 18, members of the Town & Country Police Department were dispatched to Gunter’s home, 1515 Mason Hill Court, to assist with an accidental injury. The officers found Gunter’s wife, Susan, severely wounded and laying on the first floor of the home, with Gunter nearby.

Emergency Medical Technicians onsite took charge of the injured woman.

“She was transported to a local hospital,” explained Lt. Tom Larkin, supervisor for the County’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons. “She expired shortly thereafter.”

As part of standard procedure, Town & Country Police attended Susan’s autopsy on March 19. According to Larkin, the pathologist found evidence that contradicted Gunter’s version of the previous night’s events.

“During the autopsy, the pathologist discovered that Mrs. Gunter has suffered severe head trauma, along with some broken bones,” Larkin said. “Those facts did not fit with the rendition of Mr. Gunter, who was the only other person claiming to be home at the time she was injured.”

Confronted with this new information, Town & Country Police contacted County and asked them to take over the investigation.

Larkin and his department were called in to investigate where he said officers found evidence of a forensic nature. Larkin would not specify the nature of the evidence, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

“Even though the charges have been issued, it’s still a very active investigation. It’s not closed by any means,” Larkin said.

The evening of March 19, Gunter was interviewed by County investigators. Afterward, Larkin said the officers involved held Gunter overnight and presented the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s office with a compilation of evidence gathered. The attorney’s office then formally charged Gunter with the crime.


Larkin would not speculate on the motive for the crime, however he did say that as of March 20, there were no signs of prior abuse.

Town & Country Police Capt. Patrick Kranz referred all questions about the case to the County. Kranz did say, however, that Town & Country is a safe community, and crimes of this nature are rare.

“The last one was a double homicide,” Kranz said, referring to a crime that took place in 2005. “That was another type of domestic situation.”