Fire chief charged with murder in 2025 death of his wife

Fire chief charged with murder in 2025 death of his wife

SCOTT COUNTY, Mo. (Heartland News/Gray News) - A Scott County fire chief faces murder charges in the 2025 shooting death of his wife.

Members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested 45-year-old Jeremy Perrien just after 7 a.m. on Friday, August 21, at Fire Station Four of the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District.

Perrien is charged with second-degree murder, felony harassment, domestic assault and two counts of tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution in a case filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

According to Missouri State Highway Patrol, Perrien is accused of playing a role in the death of his 31-year-old wife, Shelby Kesler Perrien, on Interstate 55 on June 29, 2025. MSHP investigators say the Patrol’s Crime Lab found evidence linking Perrien to the death of his wife and tampering with physical evidence.

Perrien also served as a reserve deputy and assistant coroner at the time of his wife’s shooting death.

According to Scott County Sheriff Derick Wheetley, Perrien is being held in the Stoddard County Jail without bond.

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