A 33-year-old Missouri man is facing murder and child endangerment charges after authorities allege he fatally shot the mother of his infant child during a domestic dispute centered on his coin collection. According to investigators, the confrontation escalated rapidly and ended with the woman being shot multiple times at close range, all while their three-month-old baby was present. The case, now under the jurisdiction of Barry County authorities, has drawn attention due to the circumstances described in the probable cause statement and the alleged actions taken immediately after the shooting.
Alan Michael Mellow was arrested following the incident and is currently being held without bond at the Barry County Jail. Court documents and statements attributed to Mellow form the basis of the charges, which include murder and child endangerment. The victim, identified as 30-year-old Hannah Lee Blizard, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have confirmed that the infant was not physically harmed.
Alleged Argument and Events Leading Up to the Shooting
According to the probable cause statement obtained by investigators, the fatal shooting occurred after an argument between Alan Michael Mellow and Blizard concerning her alcohol use and coins that Mellow believed she had taken from his personal collection. Mellow allegedly told police that Blizard struggled with a severe alcohol addiction and that he had been attempting to help her address it. Investigators say the dispute intensified when Mellow accused Blizard of stealing coins from his collection and using them to purchase alcohol.
Police reports indicate that the argument took place inside their shared residence. During the confrontation, Blizard reportedly contacted her mother and stated that she intended to leave the apartment with the couple’s three-month-old child. Alan Michael Mellow allegedly told investigators that he did not want Blizard to leave with the baby and instead decided that he would leave with the child himself.
According to the statement, Alan Michael Mellow carried the infant outside to his Nissan vehicle and placed the baby in the back seat. He then entered the driver’s seat with the intention of leaving the scene. Investigators allege that Blizard followed him, ran to the passenger side of the vehicle, and got inside in an effort to stop him from driving away with the child.
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It was at this point, authorities say, that the situation turned deadly. Alan Michael Mellow allegedly told police that his handgun was inside the vehicle. When Blizard entered the passenger seat, he reportedly shot her “a couple of times” in the head at close range. The statement indicates that the shooting occurred while the infant remained in the vehicle.
Statements to Police and Actions After the Incident
Following the shooting, investigators say Alan Michael Mellow described a series of actions that further shaped the charges against him. According to the probable cause statement, Mellow told officers that after shooting Blizard, he moved to the passenger side of the vehicle with the intention of removing her from the car and fleeing the scene. Mellow allegedly stated that he initially intended to dump Blizard’s body and leave.
However, instead of carrying out that plan, he removed the baby from the vehicle and returned to the apartment. Police later made contact with him there. Blizard was found at the scene and was pronounced dead by responding authorities. The child, despite being present during the shooting, was not physically injured. Law enforcement officials have emphasized that the infant’s presence during the alleged crime was a key factor in the child endangerment charge filed against Mellow.
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Investigators relied heavily on Mellow’s own statements in assembling the probable cause affidavit. At this stage, the allegations outlined in court documents represent the prosecution’s account of events and have not yet been tested in court. Mellow has not entered a plea, and the case is expected to proceed through the Barry County judicial system. Alan Michael Mellow has been formally charged with murder and child endangerment in connection with the death of Hannah Lee Blizard.
Authorities confirmed that he is being held without bond at the Barry County Jail, reflecting the seriousness of the charges and the circumstances described in the case file. The murder charge stems from allegations that Mellow intentionally shot Blizard multiple times in the head at close range, resulting in her death. The child endangerment charge is based on the claim that the shooting occurred in the immediate presence of their three-month-old baby, placing the child at substantial risk of harm.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation have not released additional details about forensic findings, such as ballistic evidence or autopsy results, beyond confirming Blizard’s cause of death. Officials have also not disclosed whether additional witnesses or surveillance evidence played a role in the arrest. As the case moves forward, prosecutors are expected to rely on the probable cause statement, physical evidence from the scene, and any additional testimony gathered during the investigation.
Defense counsel, once formally engaged, may challenge the accuracy or interpretation of Mellow’s statements and the sequence of events described by police. The case has underscored the severe legal consequences associated with domestic disputes that escalate into violence, particularly when children are present. Court proceedings in the coming months will determine how the allegations are addressed under Missouri law and whether the charges result in a conviction or other legal outcome.