Missouri man accused of attempted manslaughter for allegedly assisting in suicide attempt

A Randolph, Missouri, man is facing a charge of attempted voluntary manslaughter after he allegedly assisted in a suicide attempt, prosecutors said in a news release.

Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson also charged Christopher Ryan Crownover on Friday with one count of armed criminal action.

Prosecutors allege that Crownover “knowingly assisted” in an attempted suicide by instructing the victim to kill herself, selecting the knife and filming her as she stabbed herself.

Clay County Sheriff deputies responded about 11:45 p.m. Thursday to a home in Randolph, a small town in Clay County near Interstate 435 and the Missouri River, according to redacted copy of the affidavit, which describes why someone is charged with a crime. There, deputies found a person lying on the ground with a knife impaled on the left side of her body.

Crownover allegedly told deputies he had video of the person stabbing herself on his cellphone. Crownover allegedly said, “I was going to kill her if she didn’t kill herself,” and that he was the one who got the knife for her. Because the affidavit was redacted, it was unclear to whom he made the comments.

Crownover told an investigator that the victim picked up a knife to use on herself. Crownover allegedly told the victim the knife was too small and directed her to another one.

He also told the victim that he heard from the movie “Troy” that if she stabbed the left side of her body under the armpit, it would cause sudden death.

Crownover allegedly consented to allow investigators to look at videos on the phone. In the video, the victim gave a statement that allegedly appeared to be rehearsed. The victim then took a large knife and insert it into the left side of her body, according to the affidavit.

Crownover asked multiple times if she had stabbed herself. He allegedly didn’t attempt to help or prevent the victim from harming herself. After the victim fell to the ground, Crownover was seen on the video checking whether she stabbed herself.

An investigator went to the hospital, where the victim was taken for emergency surgery. While speaking with the victim, the investigator observed bruising around the victim’s eyes and a large bruise on the side of her face, the affidavit said.

The victim allegedly told the investigator she couldn’t remember much of the incident and advised she did not want to get Crownover in trouble, according to the affidavit.