DORA, Mo. — A West Plains woman with a criminal history is now facing new charges after authorities recovered dozens of firearms allegedly stolen from a Tecumseh home.
Patricia Ann Santos-Duvalier has been charged with felony stealing of firearms after Ozark County deputies recovered 28 guns—19 rifles and 9 pistols—along with ammunition, holsters, scabbards, and other accessories. The firearms were reported stolen from a residence in Tecumseh in January 2025.
The investigation began when the victim reported that Santos-Duvalier had taken approximately 30 firearms, a gun safe, ammunition, clothing, and jewelry from his home. Among the missing firearms were a .44-magnum rifle with a scope engraved with the names “Wyatt” and “Larry” and a .30-30 bolt-action rifle with a blonde stock and forearm.
In June, deputies received a tip from a witness that Santos-Duvalier had allegedly stored firearms at a home in West Plains without the homeowner’s knowledge. The resident, a patient at West View Nursing Home, had passed away just days before investigators arrived. The resident’s sister gave deputies permission to search the house, where they recovered the firearms—many of which matched the victim’s original descriptions.
In 2023, Santos-Duvalier was charged with second-degree murder and assault in connection with an abuse case involving a mother and her mentally disabled daughter.
According to investigators, Santos-Duvalier was a caretaker for both women. The mother, who was elderly and bedridden, was left unattended even when she needed basic care. The daughter, who had a mental disability, was also under Santos-Duvalier’s supervision.
In October 2023, authorities discovered the daughter deceased in the front yard of the mother’s home with numerous external and internal injuries. Blood was later found inside Santos-Duvalier’s vehicle, despite her claim that the daughter had never been in it. While the mother has since passed away, leading to the charges being dismissed, the case raised questions about the care both women received.
Santos-Duvalier now faces new felony charges for the firearm thefts.
A preliminary hearing in the firearms case is scheduled for August 12, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
