In Scott County, Missouri, 45-year-old Jeremy Perrien faces murder charges in connection with the 2025 shooting death of his wife. The report does not identify the woman by name or provide further details about the shooting itself. According to the report, members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Perrien shortly after 7 a.m. on Friday, August 21, at Fire Station Four. The report identifies Perrien as a Scott County fire chief. The available report does not explain what evidence led to the charges or describe the circumstances surrounding the death. Those issues remain for the authorities and the court process to address. What Makes This Incident Different A death connected to a reported shooting may involve both a criminal case and separate civil questions. A murder charge is an allegation in the criminal justice system; it does not itself decide whether surviving family members have a civil wrongful-death claim or who may be legally responsible for damages. The criminal process and a civil case also serve different purposes. Prosecutors decide whether to pursue criminal charges, while qualifying family members may have separate rights under Missouri law to seek compensation for losses caused by a death. The outcome of one process does not automatically determine the outcome of the other. For a family coping with a sudden death, it can be important to understand that a civil review may require attention even while a criminal matter is pending. Deadlines, evidence access, and the relatives authorized to act can all affect the options available. Questions Investigators May Examine Investigators may examine whether physical evidence, witness accounts, and other available records clarify the sequence of events surrounding the reported shooting. They may also examine whether law-enforcement documentation explains the basis for the charges and whether available evidence can be reliably connected to the incident. Records may help clarify when relevant information was collected, how it was handled, and whether additional witnesses or materials should be considered. In a civil review, questions may include whether any person or entity had a legally recognized role in causing the death. The evidence—not the filing of a charge alone—will determine what civil claims, if any, may be supported. Evidence That May Need to Be Preserved Evidence can become more difficult to locate as time passes. Depending on what was collected and retained, a family’s legal team may seek to preserve or request: - Law-enforcement incident reports, dispatch logs, and investigation records; - Photographs, video, diagrams, and documentation of the location, if created; - Body-camera, dash-camera, surveillance, or other video that may exist; - Witness names, contact information, and prior statements; - Documentation concerning any firearm- or ballistic-related evidence, if collected; - Evidence inventories, laboratory records, and chain-of-custody documentation, if applicable; - Medical examiner, autopsy, and death-record materials available through proper legal channels; and - Public court filings and charging documents connected to the criminal case. Families should avoid attempting to gather physical evidence themselves or contacting potential witnesses in a way that could interfere with an active investigation. A lawyer can help identify records that may be available and make timely preservation requests where appropriate. What Families Should Know Missouri’s wrongful-death law allows certain surviving relatives to pursue a civil claim after a death caused by another’s wrongful act. Missouri law sets out which family members have priority to bring such a case, so relatives should seek legal guidance before assuming who can file. In many Missouri wrongful-death matters, there is a three-year filing deadline. The applicable deadline can depend on the legal claim and the circumstances, however, and waiting can create problems with both deadlines and evidence preservation. A prompt consultation can help a family understand the rules without requiring them to make immediate decisions about litigation. Potential damages in a wrongful-death case may include losses recognized by Missouri law, such as the value of support, services, companionship, and funeral expenses. Every case is fact-specific, and compensation is never guaranteed. How Dunk Law Can Help Dunk Law can speak with Missouri families after a fatal shooting to evaluate possible wrongful-death issues separately from any criminal proceeding. Our attorneys can help assess who may have authority to bring a claim, identify records that may need preservation, communicate with involved agencies when appropriate, and explain the civil process in clear terms. If your family has lost someone in circumstances involving a reported shooting, Dunk Law can provide a confidential consultation about potential next steps and Missouri wrongful-death deadlines. Related Dunk Law Resources - Wrongful death claims - Catastrophic injury claims - All practice areas This post is based on publicly available news reports and is provided for general information only. It is not legal advice.