Mistrial declared in Branson double homicide case

BRANSON, Mo. — A mistrial was declared Thursday in a Taney County murder case after the jury declared itself to be “hopelessly deadlocked.”

The action late Thursday followed a four-day trial on charges that Miguel Melendez-Torres shot and killed two servers at a Branson restaurant after closing hours on May 29, 2021.

Judge Jeffrey Merrell thanked the jury for its service and declared a mistrial, ordering Melendez-Torres to return to court on Feb. 5, 2025.

The defendant is accused of killing Krystle Buhl and Richard McMahan, who were both servers of Famous Dave’s Barbecue in Branson.

The full article is available at ozarksfirst.com.

(Story by Drew Tasset, ozarksfirst.com)