The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a 39-year old Rolla man is in custody following a multi-county investigation into a string of livestock thefts across Missouri.
Melvin J. Fincher was apprehended March 9 by the U.S. Marshals Service and “Operation Relentless Pursuit” officers in Neosho. The arrest marks the culmination of a months-long probe led by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Rural Crimes Investigation Unit (RCIU).
The investigation began on September 3, 2025, when Polk County Sheriff Danny Morrison requested state assistance regarding cattle stolen from a local resident. Investigators soon linked Fincher to that case, as well as separate thefts in Phelps and Barry counties.
According to the Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC), investigators identified specific patterns in the thefts that matched incidents reported across several jurisdictions.
Following the RCIU’s findings, the Barry County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Fincher on February 11 with one felony count of Stealing Livestock/Wildlife.
Fincher was transported to the Newton County Jail following his arrest. A judge has set his bond at $50,000.