A woman from Missouri survived a terrifying kidnapping by playing dead under the body of another victim when the two were forced to climb into a well. The kidnapper, Steven “Chase” Calverley, 33, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his involvement in the crime. He was found guilty of second-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery, assault, and armed criminal action.
In August 2020, Calverley and eight others took two women, Sarah Pasco and Melissa Pugh, to a remote area in Lawrence County, Missouri. They were forced to dig their own graves at gunpoint. Afterward, the women were ordered into an abandoned well. Calverley and his group shot at them, and Pasco, 27, was killed by a bullet to the head. Pugh survived by hiding beneath Pasco’s body until the kidnappers left. She then managed to escape and find help.
Gary Hunter Jr., another member of the group, admitted to firing the gun that killed Pasco. However, Calverley was also present at the well and played a part in the crime. Some of the other kidnappers pleaded guilty, but Calverley chose to have a bench trial. He tried to defend himself by relying on testimony from Hunter, who claimed Calverley wasn’t fully involved in the crime. However, the judge did not find this claim believable. The judge sentenced Calverley to 40 years in prison, the same as Hunter’s sentence.
Before the crime, Calverley was a Marine who had served in Afghanistan and was awarded the Purple Heart after being injured in an explosion. His defense attorney argued that Calverley suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may have caused strange behavior and dissociation from reality.
Melissa Pugh, who was in prison for a parole violation at the time of sentencing, said she forgave Calverley. However, she questioned why he didn’t try to help her or Pasco, considering his military background. She said, “I know God spared my life for a reason,” but added she didn’t understand why none of the men tried to help them.
Sarah Pasco’s sister, Megan, was furious with Calverley. She said, “There were nine of you, and not one of you called 911. You are supposed to be a war hero, and you should have been held to a higher standard.”
