A 33-year-old Missouri man, Alan Michael Mellow, has been charged with first-degree murder after investigators say he shot and killed 30-year-old Hannah Lee Blizard on Dec. 20 while their three-month-old child was nearby. Police say Mellow fired multiple times, returned to his apartment with the infant and later surrendered; the baby was evaluated at a hospital. A probable cause affidavit cites arguments over Blizard's alleged alcohol use and the alleged theft of coins from Mellow's collection. Mellow faces murder, armed criminal action and child endangerment charges and is held without bond.
Missouri Man Charged With First‑Degree Murder After Alleged Shooting While Infant Was Nearby
Barry County Sheriff's OfficeAlan Michael Mellow.
Monett, Mo. — A 33-year-old man has been arrested and charged after authorities say he shot and killed the mother of his child while their three-month-old baby was nearby, police said.
Incident Overview
According to a statement from the Monett Police Department and a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, police identified the suspect as Alan Michael Mellow, 33, and the victim as Hannah Lee Blizard, 30. The shooting occurred during a reported domestic dispute on Saturday, Dec. 20, when the couple were in a vehicle parked outside an apartment complex and their infant was inside the car.
Barry County Sheriff's OfficeAlan Michael Mellow.
Authorities say Mellow fired multiple shots at Blizard. Officers found the victim outside a silver car, "bloody and appeared lifeless," the affidavit says. Blizard was pronounced dead at the scene. Mellow allegedly returned to his apartment with the child and later surrendered himself and the infant to police without incident. The baby was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
What Investigators Say
The Barry County probable cause affidavit states officers responded after reports of shots fired. At one point during the standoff, Mellow spoke by phone with a highway patrol officer who urged him to surrender and to hand over the child. The affidavit quotes Mellow as saying,
"My son will grow up without a dad."
Google MapsThe Monnett, Mo. block where the shooting took place.
After his arrest, investigators say Mellow told them the couple had argued about Blizard's alleged alcohol use and that she had taken coins from his coin collection, which he believed she sold to buy alcohol. He told police that Blizard had called her mother and said she planned to leave with their child. Mellow allegedly said he placed the infant in the car, Blizard followed, and when she entered the vehicle he reached for a handgun and shot her "a couple of times" in the head before returning to the apartment with the baby, according to the affidavit.
Charges and Custody
Mellow faces one count of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and one count of first-degree child endangerment. He is being held without bond at the Barry County Jail, court records show.
Contact and Resources
Police have asked anyone with information to contact the Monett Police Department Detective Bureau at 417-235-4241, extension 2. The Monett Police Department and the Barry County Sheriff’s Office were cited in the public statements; additional details were reported by PEOPLE.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233 or online at thehotline.org. Calls are toll-free and confidential in more than 170 languages.
