By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
September 23, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — A Kansas City man has been charged in the triple murder on Sept. 8, 2015, of Bianca Fletcher, her one-year-old son and Shannon Rollins.

But it’s what was said by Jackson County’s Prosecutor that should comfort Kansas City’s residents.

At last week’s press conference announcing the arrest and charges of Joseph L. Nelson, 22, of Kansas City, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker expressed the importance of witnesses coming forward. Nelson has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, a class A felony; first-degree burglary, a class B felony; and three counts of armed criminal action, a felony. Prosecutors have requested a bond of $1 million.

“Our office was not going to stand idly by,” Baker said, adding her office will bring justice for all members of the community, especially children. “To those who say witnesses don’t come forward, you’re wrong. To those who confuse witnesses with snitches, you’re wrong. They’re heroes.”

According to court records, on Sept. 8, 2015, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the 5900 block of E. 84th Street for a reported shooting. Three victims were found fatally shot, two adults and a male infant. No shell casings were found and some of the victims’ personal belongings were missing. Baker stressed the assistance of witnesses who stepped forward and told police that Nelson shot Bianca Fletcher. Nelson allegedly told one witness “other things had to be done” after he first shot Bianca Fletcher. After shooting all three victims, he cleared the room of shell casings and later sold the firearm. He told witnesses he showered several times and washed his hands with bleach. Another witness corroborated Nelson’s role in these shootings saying Nelson told him, “I killed them. I killed them.” Another witness told police how Nelson had a verbal confrontation with one victim before he shot her and killed the others. Baker said this showed that crime isn’t controlling the city, the people are and they’ll work together to make the community safer.

“I challenge the notion that witnesses don’t talk,” Baker said. “We have multiple examples just from this case of people coming forward.”

Baker noted it has been a violent few weeks in Kansas City, and pleaded with others who have witnessed crimes to come forward for the betterment of the community. With these, and other recent charges, Baker emphasized key witnesses stepped forward to work with police and helped to bring justice for the victims’ families. In some instances, family members had to speak up against a family member; in other instances the help was simply an anonymous call to the TIPS Hotline.

“Every day we see good citizens step forward to do the right thing,” Baker said. “I can’t thank our community enough for their crucial role in helping to win justice.”