Warrensburg Murder: Case Suspect in 2012 Murder Released After 'Understanding of Evidence' Changes (VIDEO)
The Warrensburg murder suspect has had charges against him dropped after prosecutors admitted that their understanding of the evidence in the case had changed.
Saudi national, Ziyad Abid, 24, was charged with first degree murder for the Sept. 2012 homicide of bar owner Blaine Whitworth.
He has twice been denied bond since then over fears that he would leave the country.
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Since his arrest, prosecutors have been adamant that they had the right man. Investigators had claimed that another man, Reginald Singletary, a former employee of Whitworth's, had admitted to the killing, but had told authorities that Abid had hired him to carry out the murder.
Prosecutors, however, have never been able to tie a motive for the murder to Abid.
Lynn Stoppy, Johnson County, Mo., prosecuting attorney said Friday that his team's understanding of evidence in the case had changed, and they were now dropping charges against Abid.
Stoppy said, "Abid was originally charged based on evidence resulting from the criminal investigation. Very recently, our understanding of evidence previously obtained from a critical witness has changed. As a result, the State is currently left without sufficient evidence to support the prosecution at this time."
Chief of Police, Bruce Howey expressed his disappointment at the developments: "As a law enforcement agency, our job is to investigate crimes to the fullest, and then not intercede in the prosecution process once the case has been turned over to them. We have full faith and the utmost respect in our Prosecuting Attorney and the State Attorney General's Office and the difficult decisions they have to make. Due to the fact that there is a pending criminal case against Reginald Singletary, we will make no further comment."
Abid was a student in Warrensburg, training to become a pilot, at the time of his arrest.
Here is a previous video news report when the two men were originally arrested in relation to the crime in 2012:
