Crime & Safety

Clayton Bank Robbery Suspect Found Dead, Apparent Suicide

On July 30, Joseph Medearis was found dead in a hotel room in St. Louis City from an apparent suicide, according to police.

A man suspected of robbing a Clayton bank in July was found dead in a St. Louis hotel room, the Clayton Police Department said Monday.

The Fifth Third Bank was robbed on Monday, July 29. Click here to read coverage: Clayton Police Searching for Man Who Robbed Bank in Clayton

Police said the man entered the bank and gave the teller a note demanding money. After the teller turned over an undisclosed amount of money, the subject left the bank. He did not display a weapon or indicate that he had one.

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He also did not try to conceal his identity. This enabled witnesses at the scene to identify Joseph Medearis as the suspect. 

Medearis was previously convicted in the 2001 robbery of Commerce Bank at Clayton Road and Demun Avenue. He was sentenced to 10 years on that conviction.

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On July 30, Medearis was found dead in a hotel room in St. Louis City from an apparent suicide, according to police. The medical examiner has not determined an official cause of death.


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