Collinsville man faces charges in fatal shooting of businesswoman in Farmersville

A Collinsville man arrested for a deadly shooting in Farmersville was formally arraigned on four murder charges in Montgomery County court on Tuesday.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office had identified Robert J. "Bobby" Tarr, 48, as a person of interest in the fatal shooting of Leslie J. Reeves, 45, a well-known business owner from Troy. Tarr was arrested Friday at his home in Collinsville on a preliminary charge of first-degree murder.

Christopher Smith, 48, of Farmerville was critically injured in the shooting.

Farmersville is about 25 miles south of Springfield.

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Tarr's bond was set at $3 million Tuesday. He was appointed a public defender.

Tarr's first appearance was set for Dec. 23.

Tarr is being housed in the Montgomery County Jail in Hillsboro.

State's attorney Andrew Affrunti said Tarr had a previous dating relationship with Reeves.

The sheriff's office was originally contacted about making a wellness check on a resident in the 100 block of Nobbie Street.

A separate report was made regarding the possibility of a deceased person at the same address.

Police arrived on the scene and located Reeves and Smith inside the residence Thanksgiving afternoon. Reeves was pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County coroner.

Reeves, the mother of two, was the owner of All You Studio and Party Place in Troy. She was also a self-defense instructor and public speaker on women’s safety.

The shooting is still under investigation.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Farmersville shooting: Man charged in connection with woman's death