From Sheriff Matt Roberts:
I want to provide the community with an update on the ongoing investigation into the deaths of Ira Briscoe and Limon Little.
In late March 2025, I shared that I planned to request assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory. After speaking with agents from the Springfield, Missouri Field Office, the Howell County Sheriff’s Office gathered all necessary materials and formally submitted a request for assistance on April 18, 2025. The request asked the FBI to examine physical evidence recovered from the scene where human remains were found on August 10, 2024.
Over the following months, I stayed in contact with the Springfield Field Office, providing additional information and follow-ups. Despite these efforts, we did not receive a decision on whether the FBI would accept the case.
After more than six months without a clear response, I reached out to Congressman Jason Smith’s office for assistance. Shortly afterward, I was contacted by another FBI agent from the Springfield Field Office to discuss the situation and the materials we had already submitted.
On November 6, 2025, I received official notification that the FBI declined to accept the case or process any of the related evidence. This marks the second time the Howell County Sheriff’s Office has requested FBI assistance on this investigation and the second time the request has been declined.
Please know that our office continues to actively pursue this case. Every new lead and piece of information is being investigated thoroughly. Our goal is not only to identify those responsible but to build a case strong enough to result in a successful prosecution and conviction.
We only get one opportunity to bring the person or people responsible to justice. Moving forward prematurely could risk allowing the killer or killers to go free. We will continue our work with patience and determination to ensure justice is done for Ira Briscoe and Limon Little.
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