2025 Team Member of the Month Archives

Corporal Kyle Seabaugh, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Special Victims Unit, is the DPS Sworn Team Member of the Month for February 2025 for his leadership in expanding a child pornography case, which led to removing four young children from extreme, ongoing sexual abuse.

In March 2021, Kyle was assigned as lead investigator in a child pornography distribution investigation in Henry County. He organized a team of experienced investigators that conducted two coordinated searches. As he dug deeper, Kyle located hidden incriminating evidence of child sexual abuse on the suspect’s cell phone. He and a second suspect were arrested and charged with multiple counts of sex trafficking, statutory sodomy and rape.

Kyle and his team worked relentlessly over three years to build their case, including collaboration with a forensic pediatrician and an FBI expert, to correctly identify the child victims. In June 2024, the initial defendant was found guilty on 23 counts of sex trafficking of a child, statutory sodomy and rape.

Kyle’s leadership of his investigative team, which included troopers, officers from the Clinton Police Department, Henry County Sherriff’s Office, and Missouri Department of Social Services State Technical Assistance Team, ended the horrific continuing abuse of four children. It also resulted in the initial suspect receiving 23 life sentences.

The second defendant is currently awaiting trial. The charges against her are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Keli Theison, an Office Support Assistant in the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control’s Kansas City District office, is the DPS Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month for February 2025 for her attention to detail, resourcefulness and excellent work assisting liquor licensees and the public.

Recently, while conducting a background check on a liquor license application, Keli uncovered that the applicant had an alias. His application had indicated he had no criminal record. As the ATC team investigated further, it was found that the applicant had actually been indicted on six counts of theft of government property and two counts of money laundering. The federal indictment indicated he was considered to be a threat to the community.

Keli’s attention to detail and thorough background check provided key information and resulted in the liquor license application being denied. Her work exemplifies ATC’s commitment to ensuring all licensees are reputable and legally operate establishments that are safe for the public.

Corporals Greg Tesch, Joe Pithan and Louis Lairmore, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Gaming Division, are the DPS Sworn Team Members of the Month for January 2025 for their heroic actions after a suspect pointed a loaded handgun and threatened multiple patrons on the gaming floor of a casino.

On April 14, 2024, Greg, Joe and Louis were on duty at the Ameristar Casino in Kansas City monitoring casino security radio channels, when they overheard a suspect was brandishing a handgun near the gaming tables. Hundreds of patrons and employees were fleeing the area, hiding behind slot machines and running for emergency exits. Greg, who was working the gaming floor, immediately located the suspect and surprised him from behind, grabbing his arms. The suspect managed to maintain control of the gun and directed it toward Greg’s head.

Joe and Louis immediately responded from the casino’s Missouri Gaming Commission office to assist. Joe gained control of the suspect’s shoulders as he and Greg wrestled him to the ground, forcing him to drop his gun. Louis also joined the struggle and used physical control techniques to bring the gunman under control. Joe handcuffed the suspect as Greg secured the gun. The gun was determined to be loaded with nine rounds and one round in the chamber.

With a gunman threatening hundreds of casino patrons and employees, Greg, Joe and Louis bravely and professionally prevented further escalation and ended the threat without anyone being injured.

Angela Engle-Walton, Admission Coordinator at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James, is the DPS Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month for January 2025 for the compassionate care she provides veterans and their families during often emotionally trying circumstances.

Recently, there was a medical emergency in the St. James home’s parking lot with a new veteran admission. Angela greeted and sought to calm and reassure the veteran’s family members, who were nervous about the move and then worked with the veteran and family through challenging times.

As Angela entered the transport van, she immediately noticed the veteran was not responsive. She had difficulty detecting a pulse. Angela calmly asked the veteran’s daughter, who had been assisting her, to sit with her mother. Angela had the transport driver sit with the veteran and call 911 while she ran inside the home to get a nurse. Several nursing team members responded and treated the veteran until an ambulance crew arrived, took over treatment and detected a pulse.

The veteran was transported to a hospital, received treatment for several days and was then released and directly admitted into the St. James home. As a veteran faced a medical emergency in the home’s parking lot, Angela shifted roles from admission coordinator to responder, got a patient the care he needed and comforted his family through a difficult period. Her work that day was emblematic of the compassionate care Angela provides to all veterans and their families.