PIKE COUNTY, MO. — Pike County Sheriff Stephen Korte has reported that on Friday, Oct. 18, shortly after 7 a.m., Conservation Agent Sarah Foran made contact with a vehicle parked on Ranacker Conservation Area just south of Frankford. The vehicle was occupied by an adult male, female, and four-month-old baby. When the agent went to her patrol vehicle to check them through the state system the male subject ran in to the woods.  The male was identified as Jesse J. Sturm. 

Sturm, who has previous history of escaping custody, had active warrants for his arrest from Lewis and St. Genevieve counties, as well as a no-bond warrant from the Missouri State Highway Parole.  Pike County deputies including K-9, federal game warden with K-9, Ralls County Sheriff’s deputies, Frankford Police Department, and Missouri Highway Patrol air and ground units, arrived and assisted in the search. After over four hours, the active search of the area ended and units began extra patrol of the area.

At approximately 2:10 p.m., on Friday, 911 and individual officers began receiving calls of a man fitting the description on the nearby service road. The Deputy assigned as the School Resource Officer on station at Frankford School responded along with Frankford Police Department and took Strum in to custody. 

Sturm was transported back to the Department of Corrections on Monday, Oct. 21. Charges are pending in Pike County. Sturm reportedly has a criminal history that dates back almost a decade, and includes multiple felony possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest by fleeing charges, in addition to numerous misdemeanor controlled substance and traffic charges. He had been on parole since 2019.

The female passenger, Randi Bruckner, received a ticket for possession of marijuana, and was released. The Missouri Children's Services were also involved in the incident.

All persons charged with a crime are considered innocent by the courts until being found and or pleading guilty in a court of law.