By Paul Thompson
Northeast News

Jared M. Witthar, 32, has been charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree and Armed Criminal Action related to the fatal stabbing of Theresa Chrisman, who was found in Sheffield Park on March 20.

The charges were announced on the morning of Monday, April 23. According to court records made public that morning, DNA from Witthar was found on the handle of a knife found in Sheffield Park. Investigators also determined that the blade of the knife contained Chrisman’s blood.

The probable cause statement released with the charges indicates that authorities were called to investigate a body found in Sheffield Park shortly after noon on March 20. The Jackson County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, due to multiple stab wounds. Authorities now believe that the homicide was committed on March 15.

A witness provided a formal statement to authorities saying that she was with Chrisman until approximately 6 p.m. on March 15. At that time, Chrisman said that she was going to meet her ex-boyfriend, Witthar. The witness told authorities that she tried to talk Chrisman out of the encounter, due to Witthar’s “violent nature and prior incidents of assault against the victim.”

In one incident described by the witness, Chrisman arrived at work late one day in February 2018, with bruises on her neck and arms. In explanation, Chrisman at the time said that Witthar had been holding her at knifepoint against her will. The witness told investigators that she believed Chrisman had said that the incident occurred at Sheffield Park.

A second witness recalled seeing a dark colored vehicle pull up across the street from her residence for the first time on March 15. A white male wearing a dark hoodie and long, dark shorts was driving the car. A third witness recalled a similar vehicle parking in front of her address, and said that the driver waited in the car for roughly 20 minutes before exiting the vehicle. The witness allegedly observed the male looking over his shoulder once he left the car.

Police eventually towed the vehicle after it was determined to be Chrisman’s car. The location where the second and third witnesses observed the male parking the vehicle was just .09 miles from Witthar’s residence (11330 E. Truman Rd.).

Crime scene technicians processed the victim’s vehicle, determining that blood was present on steering wheel, turn lever and gear shifter. The crime lab reported that the female major profile matched the victim, while Whitthar was pegged as a potential minor contributor.

According to the probable cause statement, detectives were repeatedly contacted about Witthar’s history of violence, including a streak of jealousy regarding the victim. One party described Witthar’s obsession with the victim, suggesting that he would track her movements through her phone and threaten her with violence. That source also said that she was troubled that Witthar showed no emotion over Chrisman’s death.

A second source relayed his belief that Witthar was in love with Chrisman; that individual also said that Witthar had said several times that “he was going to kill her.” The second source specifically recalled Witthar saying he was going to stab Witthar. When the second source confronted Witthar about the news of Chrisman’s death, Witthar allegedly replied in a nonchalant manner.

“I don’t have time for this, I gotta go to work,” Witthar replied, according to the source.

On March 15, Chrisman sent and received calls and text messages until just 8:07 p.m., when any further incoming calls were directed straight to voicemail. Witthar’s phone didn’t call or text the victim’s phone after 8:07 p.m. on March 15.

A brown and silver-colored folding knife was located in Sheffield Park while authorities were processing the crime scene. When the medical examiner observed photographs of the knife that was found at the crime scene, the doctor suggested that the injuries on Chrisman’s body were consistent with the blade of the knife.

Witthar was taken into custody at 8:30 p.m. on March 21. Prosecutors requested a bond of $250,000.