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Missouri assistant fire chief charged with murder after hidden video found on wife's phone
Jeremy Perrien, 45, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Shelby Perrien, after investigators found a hidden video on her phone showing him assaulting her and threatening to kill her. Authorities say forensic analysis also determined she could not have shot herself.
A Missouri assistant fire chief who spent more than a year claiming his wife killed herself while they were driving down a highway has been charged with murder after investigators found a hidden video on her phone that contradicted his account, authorities said.
Jeremy Perrien, 45, was arrested Friday at Fire Station Four in Scott County, Missouri, ending a 14-month investigation. He faces charges of second-degree murder, felony harassment, domestic assault and two counts of tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution, according to court records.
Perrien initially told authorities that he and his wife, 31-year-old Shelby Perrien, were driving back from a bar in Cape Girardeau on June 25, 2025, when she apologized, pulled out a.380 caliber handgun and shot herself in the head. When asked whether he made any stops after the shooting, Perrien told deputies he did not, but then said, «I lied, I pulled over on Kingshighway to p---.»
Investigators said the ride was described as «non-argumentative,» but a forensic examination of Shelby's cellphone uncovered a hidden folder containing a 90-second video recorded about a month before her death. In the video, according to an affidavit, Jeremy is seen striking his wife, grabbing her by the throat, choking her and repeatedly punching her. He also threatened to kill her multiple times during the recording.
«I would not get mouthy with me. I will, I'll f------. I want to kill you so f------ bad right now,» Jeremy allegedly told his wife in the video. «If you're going to lie, then I'm just going to smash your face and go to jail and end my f------ life with you,» he allegedly said.
At another point, Jeremy allegedly threw his wedding band in her face and said, «I'm never wearing that son a b---- again.»
State police also recovered text messages in which Jeremy allegedly wrote, «You 100% will need a body bag if I stay with you. Each time my rage is worse.» In another message, he allegedly wrote, «I'd be lying to you if I told you that I was hoping that you wouldn't commit suicide.»
Perrien's arrest followed forensic analysis of blood spatter and physical evidence inside the vehicle, which authorities said determined it was impossible for Shelby to have pulled the trigger herself.
Scott County Sheriff Derick Wheetley said he personally knew both Jeremy and Shelby Perrien and had worked alongside Jeremy at numerous fire scenes and calls for service. «This has never been something I took lightly, and I wanted the truth just as much as Shelby's family, friends, and this community did,» Wheetley said in a release. «Today's charges demonstrate exactly why we turned this investigation over from the beginning and why we remained patient and allowed independent agencies to follow the evidence wherever it led.»
Perrien is being held at the Stoddard County Jail without bond. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney representing him. The Scott County Rural Fire Department did not respond to a request for comment.
