A Missouri assistant fire chief has been arrested and charged with murder, more than a year after he told authorities his wife died by suicide. Jeremy Perrien, 45, faces charges including second-degree murder, felony harassment, domestic assault, and tampering with physical evidence.
The investigation into the death of his wife, 31-year-old Shelby Perrien, began in June 2025. Jeremy Perrien initially claimed they were driving home from a bar when his wife produced a handgun and shot herself. He told deputies that he did not stop the vehicle following the incident, though he later admitted to stopping briefly to urinate.
Investigators' suspicions were raised, and a breakthrough came when they accessed a hidden folder on Shelby Perrien's cellphone. The folder contained a 90-second video recorded approximately one month before her death. According to an affidavit, the video depicted Jeremy Perrien assaulting his wife, including choking her, grabbing her by the throat, and repeatedly punching her. The recording also captured Perrien making death threats towards his wife.
Further examination of the phone revealed text messages where Jeremy Perrien allegedly wrote messages such as, “You 100% will need a body bag if I stay with you. Each time my rage is worse,” and indicated he was not hoping for her suicide.
Forensic analysis of the blood spatter and other physical evidence inside the vehicle concluded that it would have been impossible for Shelby Perrien to have fired the weapon herself. This forensic evidence, combined with the video and text messages, led authorities to conclude that Jeremy Perrien's account was false.
Perrien was arrested on Friday, August 21, at Fire Station Four in Scott County, Missouri. He is currently being held at the Stoddard County Jail without bond. Scott County Sheriff Derick Wheetley, who knew both Jeremy and Shelby Perrien, stated that the investigation was handled with patience to allow independent agencies to follow the evidence.