A great deal of mystery continues to surround a murder that took place in Franklin on Sept. 7, but authorities aren’t releasing much information. Emmett S. Wood, Jr., 44, is in the Howard County Jail. He faces one charge of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 22-year-old Courtney Clardy.

Clardy reportedly lived in Blackwater and worked as a nurse in Marshall. She leaves behind a one-year-old son.

Howard County Sheriff Mike Neal said a 911 call from Wood’s father was made shortly before 5 p.m. Monday. According to a probable cause statement filed by Howard County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Sellars, Emmett Wood, Sr. told the 911 operator that there was an unknown female that was bleeding at his residence.

According to the statement, Wood, Sr. told police that he observed his son and an unknown white female physically fighting in the residence. He said the female was trying to leave the house when Wood, Jr., pulled her back into the residence. At some point during the struggle, the victim hit her head on the fireplace. According to the statement, Wood Jr. told his father, “let her die she’s a cop.” Wood Jr., then left the residence on foot. Officers arrived at the home on Crews St. in Franklin where they found Clardy dead with multiple stab wounds.

A manhunt ensued and he was captured by the Missouri State Highway patrol the next day in a rural area near Clarks Chapel. He was taken to a nearby emergency room where he was deemed fit to be held in the jail.

What remains a mystery is the connection between Clardy and Wood, Jr., and why she was at his residence. Questions exist over Wood, Jr.’s comment that she was a police officer.

Sheriff Neal on Monday said he is not releasing any further information about the case. He declined to say if drugs were involved in the crime. He said his department is continuing to follow leads and search for evidence.

Neal said he does not know whether or not Wood Jr., and Clardy were in a relationship. “We’re trying to find out what the connection is between the two of them.”

According to online court records, Wood, Jr., was arraigned by Judge Mason Gebhardt on Sept. 10. A day later, he secured the service of public defender Robert Fleming.

Wood, Jr., appeared with his attorney in Howard County court Tuesday morning. Judge Gebhardt ordered he continue to be held without bond. 

He is due to return to court at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 27 for a preliminary hearing setting.

Members of the Clardy family were present in the courtroom Tuesday.

Wood, Jr. is a native of Howard County but has served prison time in Nebraska. He served nearly five years there for the use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. Most recently, in February 2017, he was sentenced to three to six years in a Nebraska prison following a car crash that left his passenger dead. He was released from prison on June 2 of this year.

A fundraising effort is underway on the website gofundme.com to help pay for Clardy’s funeral costs. By Tuesday morning, $5,354 of the $10,000 goal had been donated. The description on the website reads: “Courtney's family & loved ones need some help covering the costs of laying her to rest as she left the world much too soon. This was very sudden & unexpected,  so any donation at all would be extremely appreciated. All proceeds will go directly towards funeral & burial costs, if there is any leftover after it will go to her 1 year old son, Henry William.”