Christopher Dylan Vinson, a 28-year-old White man from Charleston, Missouri, was remembered for his love of fishing, music, the outdoors, and his family. Though born in Austell, Georgia, he had spent nearly his entire life in the Charleston community, where he was known by those close to him.
On the evening of April 1, 2024, the Charleston Department of Public Safety responded to a call of shots fired and recovered 9-millimeter shell casings at the scene. Five days later, on the afternoon of April 6, the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call about a body found in a rural area. Responding deputies located Christopher’s remains partially submerged in water near County Road 203. A credit card was also found near the body. The discovery launched a homicide investigation.
Detectives determined that Christopher had been killed on April 1, the same day the shots were reported.
The investigation by the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office and the Division of Drug and Crime Control soon led to a suspect in Christopher’s death.
Authorities arrested Bryan Campbell, a Charleston resident, in connection with the killing. According to the criminal complaint, investigators alleged that Campbell shot and killed Christopher on April 1 and then left his body in the water. Campbell was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and abandonment of a corpse.
Bryan Campbell made his first court appearance on April 17, 2024, where he waived his formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him. The case was pending trial, and as of April 2024, Campbell was scheduled to return to court later that month.
