POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Murder charges have been filed against two Poplar Bluff men accused of the shooting death of a local man found submerged in the Black River.

Curtis L. Walker, 29, of the 100 block of County Road 617, and Bryce Davis, 24, of the 1000 block of Garfield Street, were charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action -- both felonies -- by Butler County assistant prosecuting attorney Paul Oesterreicher.

The men are accused of acting alone or together to cause the death of Salvador Ruiz Ramirez.

The body of Ramirez, 48, of Poplar Bluff was found just before 8 a.m. Oct. 22 submerged at the end of the boat ramp on Black River at the Dan River access.

An autopsy determined Ramirez, whom authorities believed was killed over a suspected drug debt, died of gunshot wounds to his head.

"Through the course of the investigation, it was discovered two weeks prior to the death of Ramirez, Walker had spoken to Bryce Davis, planning to rob Ramirez of both drug(s) and/or money," according to investigator Wes Popp's probable-cause statements.

On Oct. 21, Popp said, Walker allegedly drove to a restaurant in Sikeston, Missouri, where Ramirez was "highly intoxicated" and needed a ride home.

After arriving in Butler County, "they met with Davis," Popp said. "Walker then drove Ramirez to the Dan River Access ... where Walker shot Ramirez. Walker then removed Ramirez's body from the vehicle and drug the body down the ramp to the water."

Walker and Davis also are accused of breaking into Ramirez's Tremont Street home and earlier were charged with felony first-degree burglary.

During a search of the home, officers found items had been thrown on the floor and a fire started in the bathroom in an alleged attempt to destroy evidence.

Walker was arrested about 6 p.m. Oct. 23 when a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper stopped a suspected stolen car in Wright County. Walker was a passenger in the car, which was being driven by Casey R. Marler.

Marler, 32, of Williamsville, Missouri, was arrested on charges of resisting arrest, first-degree tampering, speeding, passing on a hill and failure to stop at a sign stop and on six Butler County warrants and two Wayne County warrants.

Walker and Marler were brought back to Butler County. Walker is being held in the Stoddard County Jail, while Davis and Marler are in the Butler County jail.

Davis was arraigned on murder and armed criminal action charges Monday and entered a not-guilty plea. He is to again appear in court Dec. 8.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.