Tuesday, April 15th, was not only Tax Deadline Day but it marked the 40th Anniversary of a sad day in Lakes Region History as a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was killed in the line of duty.
April 15th, 1985, Highway Patrol Troopers Jimmie Linegar and Allen Hines were on patrol on Highway 65 and Highway 86 near Ridgedale when they ran a check on a van that came back as possibly containing fugitive David Tate. When troopers approached, Tate came out firing a weapon, shooting Linegar 11 times killing him while injuring Hines with three shots. Tate escaped, leading to a weeklong manhunt which ended with Tate being apprehended at Shadow Rock Park in Forsyth. Tate was eventually sentenced to life in prison for the shootings…