A 38-year-old resident of Lebanon, Missouri, was arrested early Saturday after law enforcement responded to a distress call that led them to a home where a 63-year-old occupant had been violently attacked.
According to the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found the suspect, Thomas Forrest McMullan, parked in a van on the victim’s driveway. He allegedly confessed during a phone call that he had struck the homeowner with a baseball bat, causing injuries to the legs, arms and head.
The victim reported that McMullan entered the residence and continued the assault, leaving him stranded on the floor for approximately two hours before officers arrived.
Evidence Collected
Investigators recovered a blue baseball bat and a shortened‑barrel shotgun inside the vehicle, linking the suspect to both the weapon used in the attack and an illegal firearms charge.
McMullan, who has a prior felony conviction, was charged with first‑degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and several illegal weapon offenses. He was subsequently booked into the Laclede County Jail without bond.
The case has drawn local attention due to the severity of the injuries and the suspect’s criminal history, highlighting ongoing concerns about domestic violence and illegal weapon possession in the region.