In the quiet town of Hayti, Missouri, a shocking event unfolded that left the community in disbelief. Tray Phelps, a cherished family man and musician, met a tragic end on September 24, 2015. This heart-wrenching story takes us through the twists and turns of an investigation that exposed a web of lies and betrayal.
The Victim:
Tray Phelps lived with his fiancée and their young son on Swan Lake Drive in Hayti, Missouri. However, a recent decision to grant joint custody of their son to his ex-wife, Heather Cummings, stirred up tension.
The Fateful Day:
On that fateful morning in 2015, Tray was found lifeless in his driveway next to his car. An autopsy later revealed that he had succumbed to blunt force trauma inflicted by an unknown object.
The Investigation Begins:
The authorities wasted no time in launching an investigation into Tray’s murder. Suspicion immediately fell on Heather Cummings, given the strained history between her and Tray, and her discontent with the custody arrangement.
Arrests:
The day following the murder, the police apprehended Bert Allen Ellison, Heather’s boyfriend at the time, from Bradford, Tennessee. He faced charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. The presence of pictures of Tray’s home on Bert’s phone raised serious questions about his involvement in the crime.
As the investigation deepened, Heather’s father, Chester Cummings, was arrested on October 7, 2015, also on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Chester, however, claimed that he had driven Bert to Tray’s home without knowledge of his sinister plan.
Michael Jay Hemingway was arrested for tampering with physical evidence, while Ronda Jean Cummings, Heather’s mother, faced charges of hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence.
Unveiling the Truth:
The police suspected that someone had assisted the culprits in disposing of or concealing crucial evidence. Shockingly, Michael Jay Hemingway confessed to his involvement in disposing of a bag containing evidence related to the crime. Chester Cummings had given Hemingway the bag, which he had then gotten rid of.
The investigation brought to light damning evidence that incriminated both Chester and Bert in Tray’s murder. This evidence pointed to Heather Cummings, Tray’s ex-wife, who had dropped off both suspects at Tray’s residence on the morning of the murder.
Legal Proceedings:
After her arrest in 2017, Heather Cummings faced a court trial where she eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Earlier in the legal process, her former boyfriend, Bert Ellison, and her father, Chester Cummings, had also pleaded guilty, with Bert receiving a five-year prison sentence for his role in the conspiracy. Ronda Cummings, Heather’s mother, was sentenced to four years in prison for her involvement in the murder.
Conclusion:
The Tray Phelps murder in Hayti, Missouri, remains a painful reminder of the consequences of deceit and betrayal within a family. Justice was served through a meticulous investigation, bringing the perpetrators to account for their actions. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder that even in the quietest of towns, darkness can lurk behind closed doors, and it takes the dedication of law enforcement to unveil the truth and ensure justice is served.
