NewsLocal News

Actions

Jury finds David Jungerman guilty in death of attorney in 2017

David Jungerman in a courtroom hearing the verdict in his case
Posted
and last updated

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — David Jungerman, of Raytown, was found guilty of murder and armed criminal action in the 2017 death of an attorney Thursday.

The 84-year-old was charged in April 2018 with first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges in the death of Tom Pickert, an attorney at Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger.

On Tuesday, a judge ruled Jungerman was competent to stand trial, which originally began Sept. 12 but was delayed due to concerns Jungerman may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Pickert was shot dead in the front yard of his Brookside home in October 2017.

He was shot once by a .17 caliber round, which is relatively rare, according to the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Days before Pickert's death, Jungerman lost a civil judgment totaling $5.75 million, a case Pickert worked on.

Jungerman was not deemed a suspect after initially being questioned about Pickert's homicide.

However, police obtained a search warrant for Jungerman's car, house and business in March 2018.

During the search, police found an unspent .17 caliber bullet under the passenger seat of a white van.

The white van matched witnesses' description of a vehicle traveling around Raytown to Pickert's neighborhood.

A man walking his dog nearby said he saw an older white man with gray hair standing behind a white van, which was parked directly across from Pickert's house.

Jungerman told media outlets that no one used his van that day and that he was the only one with a key.

While searching his home and business, police also found a printout from the Jackson County property tax database that showed Pickert's home address at his business.

Authorities also obtained an audio recording of a discussion Jungerman had with an employee about a .17 caliber rifle and killing Pickert.

Jungerman will be sentenced Nov. 18.