Monett’s Mellow indicted in Dec. 20 Blizard homicide

Pleads not guilty after confessing to police
 
January 7 at 10:30 a.m. has been set for the next hearing for Alan Michael Mellow, charged in the Dec. 20 homicide of Hannah Blizard of Monett.
Mellow appeared before Barry County Associate Circuit Judge Robert Foulke on Dec. 22 and was formally arraigned on Dec. 23. Mellow faces charges stemming from the shooting death of Blizard, 30, outside of the Monett apartment the two of them shared with their three-month-old baby.  
Barry County Prosecutor Amy Boxx has charged Mellow with first degree murder, first degree domestic assault, first degree child endangerment, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. Mellow pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. He was listed in the indictment as a prior and persistent offender, based on a guilty plea entered to a case from July 14, 2011, in Washington County, Ark., where he was found guilty of felony possession of a controlled substance.
Mellow is being held without bond. According to court records, “The court finds based upon clear and convincing evidence that no combination of non-monetary and monetary conditions will secure the safety of the community or other person.” Mellow had no attorney on the last court record.
According to Monett Police Lt. Dennis Camp, Monett police have sent around 20 pieces of evidence to the Crime Lab in the case for examination.
Barry County Coroner Gary Swearingen pronounced Blizard dead at the scene.
Autopsy results to take weeks
An autopsy on Hannah Blizard was scheduled for Dec. 28 in Springfield, but was delayed due to the schedule of the medical examiner. An autopsy, Camp noted, based on past cases, is required for successful prosecution at the present time. The autopsy will take several weeks for the results to come back. Toxicology exams will be done at the same time, and those results will take around a month to return.
A memorial visitation for Blizard will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Clark Funeral Home in Neosho.
Barry County Detective Sgt. Scott Landreth interviewed Mellow in the Barry County jail after the suspect was arrested and waived his rights.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Mellow said Blizard had a drinking problem and he believed she had stolen part of his coin collection to buy alcohol. He said Blizard “decided to call her mother and leave with the child [but] he would not allow that and decided to leave himself with the child.”
By his account, Mellow placed the baby in the back seat of the vehicle. Blizard pursued him and got into the vehicle from the passenger’s side to prevent him from leaving. “Mellow said his handgun, a Taurus PT809c 9 mm caliber semi-automatic, was in the vehicle, and when [Blizard] got in, “he shot her ‘a couple of times’ in the head.” Mellow said he intended to open the door, dump her body, and leave the scene, but instead took the baby out of the vehicle and returned to the apartment.
Mellow surrendered to police after about an hour. Monett officers, Barry County deputies, the Highway Patrol and its SWAT team were outside. Monett firefighters and the Barry-Lawrence Ambulance were also on scene.
The child was transported by ambulance for medical evaluation for matters unrelated to the incident. According to the affidavit of probable cause, doctors at Cox Monett Hospital deemed the baby’s injuries suspicious. The child was transported to Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, where it was determined the child has “a skull fracture of as yet undetermined nature.” The child was subsequently transferred to St. Louis.
Camp reported that the baby “is still in St. Louis receiving care for the injuries received.”