A Springfield man who had been out of jail on bond for nearly two years awaiting trial for a charge of second-degree murder is back in jail after being arrested on two separate occasions for domestic assaults.
Jacob DeJong, 26, is currently in Christian County Jail in Ozark. He faces two new charges of second-degree domestic assault for the recent incidents, following his arrest in Billings Dec. 4.
DeJong is also charged with second-degree murder in the killing of 74-year-old Larry Woods in August of 2021 at the Cedar Knoll Apartment Complex at 500 W. Walnut Lawn in Springfield.
According to court documents, DeJong posted a $150,000 bond on Dec. 27, 2021, which included the requirement that he resides at a home in the 4000 block of West Lombard in Springfield.
But around 10 a.m. Dec. 1, DeJong was arrested at a residence in Billings. There, it was alleged he strangled the victim, who told Christian County deputies that she had attempted to hide alcohol from DeJong.
DeJong was booked and released from jail on that charge the same day.
Then on Monday, Dec. 4, DeJong was arrested again for a separate domestic incident involving a different victim that occurred that morning at the same residence in Billings. According to the court documents, the victim in the Dec. 4 incident is pregnant. DeJong allegedly kicked her in the stomach so hard she fell off a bed.
According to online court documents, Greene County prosecutors confirmed DeJong had on a GPS monitor during his recent arrests in Billings. The attorneys are trying to determine why DeJong was not at the West Lombard address in Springfield.
Nicholas Bergeon, Greene County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, has filed a motion for DeJong to be rearrested.
What led to 2021 second-degree murder charge?
According to the probable cause statement related to the second-degree murder charge, Larry Woods died at a Springfield hospital on Aug. 31, 2021, after being assaulted on Aug. 25, 2021 at the Cedar Knoll Apartment Complex in south Springfield.
The probable cause statement filed against DeJong says Woods and DeJong got into an argument because DeJong believed Woods had been disrespectful to Woods’ roommate. The statement says DeJong charged at Woods, pushing Woods to the ground. DeJong allegedly kicked and stomped on Woods head.
DeJong is scheduled to have a jury trial for second-degree murder and second-degree burglary charges in April 2024.
