Steelville Woman Arrested, Charged

Steelville, Mo. (KFMO) - Crawford County authorities are investigating a death and child endangerment in Steelville.

According to the Crawford County Sheriff's Office, deputies, the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) and officers with the Steelville Police Department responded to the 1400 block of Birdsnest Rd., which is the Birdsnest River Access, where a caller had reported an unresponsive male in a parked car. Additionally, it was reported that there was a 3-year-old juvenile in the car unattended.

After arrival, a search of the area was conducted while EMS attempted to care for the male subject. A female subject was located near the vehicle, in the woods, appearing to be under the influence of drugs and also disoriented.

The male subject in the vehicle, identified as 46-year-old Eric DeClue, of Cherryville, was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Members of the Criminal Investigations Division were called to investigate and process the scene along with the assistance of a LANEG (Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group) task force officer. The female subject, identified as 32-year-old Anna Windle,  was transported to the Crawford County Sheriff's Office for questioning.

Later, during an interview with Windle, she revealed that she had consumed methamphetamine earlier in the evening and could not recall the events leading up to her contact with law enforcement. Soon after, she was booked into the Crawford County Adult Detention Facility.

The juvenile child was placed with a family member with the assistance of Crawford County Children's Division.

The cause of death of DeClue has not been determined, and the investigation is ongoing.

Windle has been charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child Involving Drugs- 1st Degree, a Class D Felony. A $500,000.00 cash/surety bond was issued.