On the evening of December 1, 2016, Michael R. Gehm, 41, was found dead inside a home on County Road 4060 in rural Dent County, Missouri, after suffering a gunshot wound to the chin that severed his spinal cord. Deputies described the residence as chaotic and unsanitary, noting dog feces and missing carpeting.

Investigators say the shooting followed a dispute between Gehm and the homeowner, 55-year-old Fridjov N. Severud III. The two were reportedly seated at a dining table covered in ammunition and firearms when the argument occurred. A witness who was on the phone with Gehm reportedly heard the confrontation and told investigators Severud asked Gehm How does that make you feel? either immediately before or after the shot. Severud contacted the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and reported that he had shot his friend, claiming he felt threatened; deputies reported no physical evidence of a struggle at the scene.

Severud was arrested and initially charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action; the defense argued self-defense and prosecutors disputed that the victim was within reach of the weapons. The case concluded in December 2018 with Severud pleading guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder and receiving a ten-year sentence.