Man sentenced for crashing car, killing friend while high on mushrooms in Clay County
A Kansas City, North, man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for causing the death of a friend by crashing a car into a house while high on mushrooms, according to court records.
Jacob David Mustoe, 20, pleaded guilty in October to voluntary manslaughter in the June 25, 2017 death of Jake A. Wehmeyer. Both were 17-years-old at the time.
The sentencing took place Thursday in Clay County Circuit Court.
Mustoe allegedly was under the influence of psilocybin mushrooms the night of the incident, prosecutors said at the time.
Wehmeyer was killed when a fight among teenagers broke out during a party at his home in the 9400 block of North Kentucky Avenue, according to police.
According to court records, Mustoe and Wehmeyer got into an argument, which escalated to throwing items, apparently billiard balls, at each other.
Mustoe later told police he left and got to his car. He started it up and accelerated south on Kentucky. He aimed the car toward Wehmeyer’s house, driving into a neighbor’s yard.
He later told police he did that because he was high on the mushrooms and thought “everything would be OK” even if he hit the house, according to prosecutors.
Mustoe said he saw Wehmeyer standing in the neighbor’s yard trying to get him to slow down and stop, but it was too late. Mustoe hit Wehmeyer and crashed into the garage door.
Mustoe told police he then went inside, where he passed out. When he came to, he saw Wehmeyer lying under the car unresponsive, authorities said.
Mustoe rushed to the neighbor’s house to get help and then ran back inside Wehmeyer’s house, where he began to destroy property, including running into walls, causing holes in the drywall.
He then ran home, which was about a mile away, where he contacted his mother. Mustoe took a shower and changed.
Officers arriving at the scene found Wehmeyer lying partially under the car in the driveway. The car had crashed through the closed garage door.
Police found evidence of a struggle inside the home, including holes in the walls and blood throughout the basement and first floor.
Mustoe’s mother went to the Wehmeyer’s house and spoke with officers. She said that Mustoe came home and described to her what happened. Mustoe was later arrested and taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries.
This story was originally published February 16, 2020 at 4:40 PM.
