Homeless man is charged in death at Independence convenience store

Prosecutors have charged a homeless Independence man with the Monday death of a man outside a convenience store.

William R. Godfrey II, 40, faces a second-degree murder charge in the death of Paul T. Doughty, 53.

A 7-Eleven store clerk discovered Doughty’s body about 2:30 a.m. Monday while taking out trash at the store at 201 E. U.S. 24, at the intersection of Noland Road and U.S. 24.

According to court documents, responding police officers found Godfrey incoherent on the ground nearby, with blood on his face, jacket and boots.

Godfrey told investigators during an initial interview that he had found two bottles of whiskey in a ditch while walking and drank one of them before arriving at the convenience store.

Godfrey said he and Doughty started drinking the second bottle near the store’s outside trash bin. He told investigators that he must have assaulted Doughty but couldn’t remember any details.

During a second interview, Godfrey said that he and Doughty began to fight after Doughy said he didn’t want to drink anymore and struck Godfrey on his knee with a cane. Godfrey said he pushed Doughty down and struck him about 10 times with a milk crate before kicking him several times in the chest and head with his steel-toed boots.

Officers found Doughty lying on milk crates between the trash bin and the store.

Doughty’s death is Independence’s second homicide in less than a week.

This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 9:19 AM with the headline "Homeless man is charged in death at Independence convenience store."