Police say once the talking stopped-- the killing began.
Six people have been charged with the December murder of 63-year-old Stephen Rash inside his north Springfield home.
Police credit an unnamed source.
That informant claims to have been present during a discussion about killing Rash, but he or she has not been charged with anything.
Officials say it’s not against the law to listen.
“We’re not in the business of enforcing morals- our business is to enforce criminal law,” explains Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore.
"The mere fact you are in a room listening to a conversation does not make you chargeable for conspiracy,” Moore continues.
That's why police say six people were charged with murder, but seven were present at a meeting where Rash’s killing was plotted.
Police say the group met at Alexandrea McNeeley’s north Springfield home.
She’s the victim's stepdaughter and she, along with her mother, and four others are charged for rash's murder.
The seventh person at that meeting is referred to only as suspect Rusty Amoss's wife.
She’s not identified as the source, but a source who heard the discussion reported it to police.
The informant claims all six plotted the murder.
William Reed and Amoss admitted to the stabbing, telling police they were promised money and rent payments in return for doing the deed.
“I think you guys did it.
The arrests came as no surprise to Kevin Henson.
In an interview with KSPR last month he told us he was convinced his family members and their friends were involved in his stepfather's death.
“He was the kindest man I ever met. He was funny, and my daughter adored him,” Henson said then.
The six are charged with first degree murder instead of conspiracy to commit murder because Moore more says all six allegedly encouraged the killing.
They were all, in other words, active participants.

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Stephen Rash died the night of Dec. 5, 2008, in his home at 711 W. Chicago St.

His throat was cut.

More than a month after the slaying, prosecutors charged six people with first-degree murder, as outlined in this story.

Court documents obtained by KSPR reveal an alleged plot that sounds straight out of a crime-noir film -- a list of potential victims to be "taken out," a key to sneak into the victim's home, a bowling alley used as an alibi.

From the probable cause statement written by Springfield police, here's the alleged backstory of Stephen Rash's death:

Police say Rash's wife, Theresa, wanted him "out of the picture." She wasn't the only one.

Jeff Bloom also wanted Rash dead, police say, and that anger drove him to recruit two would-be killers -- William Reed and Rusty Amoss.

Police say the plot to kill Rash was hatched at a meeting at 2111 N. Summit Ave. Allegedly in attendance: Bloom, Theresa Rash, Reed, Amoss, Amoss' wife, Troy Christiansen and Alexandria McNeely.

Police are relying on a source at the meeting. From the probable cause statement:

"The source stated he/she heard a conversation about Reed and Amoss receiving money as payment for killing Stephen Rash. The source advised he/she believed a sum of one hundred dollars was mentioned. The source also told me the group of persons present during these discussions agreed to use a trip to the bowling alley as their alibi ... the source stated Reed and Amoss were supposed to use the ruse that Theresa was in the hospital as a way to contact Rash and get inside his residence."

To make sure they could get inside, the plotters allegedly got a spare key from Theresa Rash. Again, from the probable cause statement:

"Amoss said the key did not work. He reported they went to the front of the residence and were allowed inside by Rash."

That's when talk of murder became much more.

"Amoss reported Reed grabbed Rash by the neck once they were inside," according to the probable cause statement. "He stated Reed and Rash struggled into a kitchen and he followed. Amoss reported he believed Reed was trying to break Rash's neck. Amoss stated Rash struck him in the head with a pipe. Amoss stated he attempted to choke Rash and then cut Rash on the neck twice.

"Amoss stated he and Reed left Stephen Rash's residence and contacted Bloom and others at a bowling alley. Amoss stated Bloom was notified that Rash had been killed."

Bad feelings began to break out among members of the alleged clique. Amoss says he wasn't paid for the killing; he reportedly wanted somewhere between $100 and $2,000, plus some rent money.

The plot began to unravel on Jan. 12, 2009. That's when police interviewed William Reed. He reportedly admitted being inside the house when Stephen Rash died.

That same day, police say Christiansen also admitted being in Rash's house during the killing.

Cops confronted Theresa Rash. She denied everything. So did Jeff Bloom.

All six suspects are now charged with first-degree murder.