Missouri Man Accused of Killing Woman While Their Child Was Present After She Allegedly Stole From His Coin Collection

A Missouri man has been charged with first-degree murder, child endangerment and other offenses after authorities say he shot and killed the mother of his infant child while the baby was in the vehicle.

Alan Michael Mellow, 33, is accused of fatally shooting Hannah Lee Blizard, 30, outside an apartment complex in Monett on Saturday, Dec. 20, according to the Monett Police Department.

Police said the couple was involved in a domestic dispute inside a vehicle parked outside the complex, with their 3-month-old child inside the car. Investigators allege Mellow fired multiple shots at Blizard, then returned to his apartment with the baby. Authorities said he later surrendered himself and the child to police without incident. Blizard was pronounced dead at the scene.

The baby was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, police said.

A probable cause affidavit filed in Barry County alleges officers responded after receiving reports that shots had been fired. When they arrived, they found a person on the ground outside a silver car who was “bloody and appeared lifeless,” according to the document.

Additional officers were called in, and police say Mellow spoke by phone with a highway patrol officer who attempted to persuade him to surrender and to turn the infant over safely. The affidavit states that at one point he allegedly told officers, “My son will grow up without a dad.”

After being taken into custody, investigators say Mellow told them the victim struggled with severe alcohol addiction and that the two had been arguing about her drinking, as well as allegations that she had stolen coins from his collection, which he believed were used to buy alcohol.

According to the affidavit, Mellow said Blizard told him she had contacted her mother and planned to leave with their child. He allegedly told police he would not allow that and decided to leave with the baby himself. The affidavit claims that after he put the infant in the car and Blizard followed, she got into the vehicle and Mellow reached for a handgun and shot her “a couple of times” in the head before taking the baby and going back inside.

Mellow is charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of first-degree child endangerment. He is being held in the Barry County Jail without bond.

Police said anyone with information about the incident should contact the Detective Bureau at the Monett Police Department at 417-235-4241, extension 2.