The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a 39-year-old Rolla man is in jail following a multi-county investigation into a series of cattle thefts across Missouri.
The United States Marshals Service and “Operation Relentless Pursuit” officers detained Melvin J. Fincher in Neosho on March 9. The arrest is the result of a months-long investigation undertaken by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Rural Crimes Investigation Unit (RCIU).
The investigation began on September 3, 2025, when Polk County Sheriff Danny Morrison requested state aid with cattle stolen from a local resident. Investigators eventually linked Fincher to that case, along with other thefts in Phelps and Barry counties.
According to the Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC), investigators identified certain patterns in thefts that matched cases recorded in many jurisdictions.
Following the RCIU’s findings, the Barry County Prosecuting Attorney charged Fincher on February 11 with one felony count of stealing livestock/wildlife.
Fincher was taken to the Newton County Jail following his arrest. The judge has placed his bond at $50,000.