Timeline of Cassidy Rainwater’s Disappearance
July 1st, 2021
This date is listed under James Phelps’s charge for 1st Degree Kidnapping. It is unknown if this date has an significance to the timeline.
July 25th, 2021
This is the last day that Cassidy Rainwater was seen, including James Phelps who has been arrested in connection with her disappearance. According to court documents, Timothy Norton visited the home of James Phelps on July 24th to help restrain Cassidy Rainwater.
August 25th, 2021
Cassidy Rainwater is reported missing to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office by a family member.
September 1st, 2021
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office reaches out to the public via social media and local news agencies asking for information and help in locating Cassidy Rainwater. In this statement, investigators say that Cassidy Rainwater, 33, disappeared on July 25 and has ties to Dallas, Laclede, and Greene Counties.
September 16th, 2021
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office is contacted by the FBI. The FBI had received an anonymous tip that Cassidy Rainwater was in a cage on James Phelps’s property, located on Moon Valley Road in Lebanon.
Police followed up on this tip and found photos on Phelps’s phone that led to his arrest. Phelps was arrested and sent to the Dallas County Jail.
September 19th, 2021
Police identified Timothy Norton as a resident at the Moon Valley Road residence of James Phelps. Timothy Norton was interviewed by Police and admitted to restraining Cassidy Rainwater at the residence on July 24th, 2021.
September 21st, 2021
A Warrant was issued for Timothy Norton. He was arrested by Dallas County officials and booked into the Greene County Jail. Norton was charged will 1st Degree Kidnappping, including Facilitating a Felony, Inflicting Injury, and Terrorizing.
September 23rd 2021
Deputies search multiple properties in rural Dallas County, including the home connected to James Phelps on Moon Valley Road.
October 1st, 2021
Investigators announce that they are waiting for DNA evidence to return in the the disappearance of Cassidy Rainwater, but say it could be at least 30 days before any results are returned.
October 4th, 2021
The home near Lebanon, MO that was being rented by James Phelps burns to the ground. A suspicious device was identified in the home and detonated by the Springfield Bomb Squad.
The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigation the fire that caused a total loss to the home.
October 5th, 2021
Phelps and Norton appear before a Dallas County judge and prosecutors asked for 45 days until the preliminary hearing due to the number of witnesses needed. A preliminary hearing was west for November 5th at 9:30am.
Investigators returned to the scene of the house fire.
October 7th, 2021
Dallas County Sheriff Rice addresses rumors in the investigation, stating that “there is a lot of misinformation” circulating in the case. In the statement, Rice called the rumors “Fake News” and warned people to not listen to bloggers sitting in their mommy and daddy’s basement eating Great Value cheese puffs and drinking boxed wine with intentions of being a social media superstar. If you listen to these people, you are living in a fantasy world, says Sheriff Rice.
Sheriff Rice also warned people against visiting Dallas County to sightsee and implied that people who may be interested in doing this would also be inclined to trespass, litter, vandalize, harass, or destroy property.
October 12th, 2021
Investigators with the Springfield Bomb Squad say that they found an incendiary device during the fire at the home connected with James Phelps. The device is described as an explosive in a mortar tube with a balloon cover that featured tripwires.
October 15th, 2021
The fire at the home of James Phelps is concluded to be the result of an arson.
October 30th, 2021
A new judge has been requested in the case of James Phelps and as such the preliminary hearing scheduled for November 5th has been canceled.
November 1st, 2021
Judge John C. Porter will hear the case of James Phelps on November 19th.
November 2nd, 2021
Timothy Norton’s court date has been set for November 23rd and he is being held without bond.
November 12th, 2021
One of Jame Phelps’s attorneys filed multiple motions, including a Motion for Bond Reduction and Motion to Compel Discovery.
James Phelps Lebanon Home
It is being reported that James Phelps was renting a home at 386 Moon Valley Rd. According to maps, there is no home on this property. Instead the home appears to be located on another parcel, a section of a larger 60 acres that is separated by Moon Valley Rd.
Tracy Denise Wahwassuck, Cassidy’s Mother
Tracy Wahwassuck, previously Tracy Rainwater, was also the victim of a mysterious disappearance. Tracy was reported missing on either April 13th or April 16th, 2007 when Cassidy was only 18-years-old. I have been unable to locate and media coverage of Tracy’s disappearance prior to the discovery of her body in 2008.
Tracy was last seen in Lebanon, Missouri. Her boyfriend at the time told law enforcement that Tracy may have gone to look for arrowheads.
From the Springfield News-Leader, May 8th, 2008 
From the Springfield News-Leader, May 9th, 2008
Additional Resources
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