Kidnap victim recovers as investigation continues

New twists and turns result in additional arrest, motive still not clear, By Jennifer Jean Miller Newton — The list of suspects has grown and new details continue to be released surrounding the Jan. 8 kidnapping of a Newton business owner. Jeff Muller, 59, of Frankford was abducted in front of his store, J&G Pet Food, in a case of mistaken identity. Muller was found by authorities in Lake Ozark, Mo., on Jan. 9 after a cross-country car trek, in which he was held by a trio at gunpoint and beaten along the way. Connected to another case Police have arrested three Missouri men, Douglas Stangeland, 46, Andrew David Wadel, 21, and Lonnie Eugene Swarnes, 44. The kidnapping in Newton has now been connected to a Nov. 9 break-in at the home of Charles Scammell in Missouri in which the same three men were looking for a man named Jeff Muller. “They had the right name but the wrong place,” Sheriff Ron Peckman of Vernon County, Mo., said. Police believe the men were looking for a different Jeff Muller because of a business deal gone awry, although Peckman said, “There are so many different players, we are trying to determine who did what. The business deal didn’t involve everyone arrested. There are multi-secondary players and there may be some third players and more arrests.” During the Missouri break-in at Scammell’s home, he told the intruders that Muller was in New Jersey. Stangeland then shot Scammell in the right hand. He lost three of his fingers from the gunshot. Two of the kidnappers, Stangeland and Wadel, lived with a fourth suspect William “Billy” Barger, 48. The three kidnappers were allegedly under orders from Barger to snatch Muller. The third kidnapper, Swarnes, told police that Barger claimed to be the son of Hell’s Angels’ founder Sonny Barger and the president of a Midwest Hell’s Angels chapter, which the kidnappers wanted to join. William Barger is neither connected to Sonny Barger nor the Hell’s Angels, said authorities. Swarnes said Barger threatened him and the others with harm if they did not execute the kidnapping. Barger was arrested Jan. 11. Police confiscated 17 firearms during the investigation. Barger, who has a 1992 felony conviction in the State of New York, is not allowed to possess firearms. He had been hiding the firearms connected to the Nov. 9 case, which makes him liable for evidence tampering, in addition to illegal weapons, kidnapping, burglary and assault charges. Swarnes waived his extradition hearing and will face charges in New Jersey. Stangeland and Wadel have extradition hearings scheduled for Feb. 10. Police protection “Safety is paramount, important and routine,” said Lt. Robert Osborn of the Newton Police Department. To that end, Muller has been under police protection since his return to New Jersey. Protection is also being provided to the Jeff Muller whom the trio intended to kidnap. No other information is being released on him for security reasons but police expect to be able to release more information soon. “We are very near to putting it all together,” Sheriff Peckman said. The victim is trying to resume his regular activities. Physical reminders of his experience were still visible on his face a week following his kidnapping. He expressed his gratitude for the community outreach, and the support given to his family, especially his wife. “I am thankful to the townspeople. Everybody here is my family. Also the Newton Fire Department, the Newton Police Department, the Ozark Police Department and the staff in the hospital emergency room, everyone was outstanding,” Muller said. During Muller’s ordeal in Missouri a convenience store clerk witnessed Muller being assaulted when he attempted to escape his captors. Local police were notified, the men were arrested and Muller was transported to a nearby hospital to treat his injuries. He was returned home to his family on Jan. 10.

These were dumb stunts performed by these men but they were also dangerous. They injured Mr. Scammell and Mr. Muller. It could have been a lot worse if Mr. Muller was not able to escape from them. We do not know what was in store for him.”
Sheriff Ron Peckman of Vernon County, Mo.