Iowa man charged with murder of his father after fight in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri (KY3) – An Iowa man has been charged after his father died shortly after a domestic dispute this week.

According to court records, 36-year-old Joshua Masterson of Des Moines, Iowa, is charged with first-degree murder.

According to Springfield police, a fight broke out between 62-year-old Michael Masterson and Joshua on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, in which Michael was injured.

Shortly after the incident, officers arrived at the scene in the 2200 block of N. Lyon and spoke with Michael. He told them that Joshua had recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but had not been having any problems prior to this incident.

Michael told authorities Joshua was in town and living with him and Joshua's grandmother in Springfield. Michael said in the middle of the night, Joshua had a nervous breakdown and started opening and closing his bedroom door.

According to court documents, after a few times, Michael went to talk to Joshua. Joshua told his father that there were too many people in the house and that he had to leave. Officers determined that there were only three people in the house at the time.

Michael wanted to get dressed to drive Joshua to the hospital because he felt Joshua was not in the right state of mind to drive himself, but Joshua refused.

Authorities say while Michael was getting ready, Joshua ran out the door to get into his car. Michael ran after him, trying to get the keys. Authorities say the two got into an argument in which Joshua punched and kicked his father and at one point put his hand around Michael's throat.

Michael told investigators he managed to get inside and told a witness to call 911. Michael went back outside, but Joshua was gone.

According to SPD, officers found Joshua and arrested him at a gas station in White Oaks on domestic violence charges. According to officers' body camera footage, Joshua told authorities his girlfriend injected him with morphine. His girlfriend lives in Iowa.

According to court documents, officers on the scene cleared the area and left the house at around 12:43 a.m. Moments later, at 12:46 a.m., another 911 call came in to the same location saying Michael was not breathing.

Officers returned to the home and found Michael unconscious and out of breath. He was taken to a hospital in Springfield, where he later died.

After being released by medical personnel, Joshua was taken into police custody for questioning. Investigators say he initially answered all questions, but then suffered a nervous breakdown because he didn't understand what was happening. He then demanded a lawyer.

According to the Greene County Medical Examiner's Office, Michael died from trauma to his neck consistent with being choked, and that Michael had a cardiac arrest following the fight with Joshua. The medical examiner concluded that homicide was the cause of death.

This is the eighth homicide investigation in Springfield in 2024, with the tenth victim this year.

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