'Help me please... head split open': Chilling last texts of AT&T worker bludgeoned to death with crowbar as he fixed phone lines

Father-of-four Kevin Mashburn had worked for AT&T for 41 years

The 58-year-old had allegedly refused to give up his wallet to attacker



Convicted criminal Bryan Middlemas, 35, charged with first-degree murder

Middlemas allegedly confessed to former cellmate and facing death penalty



Neighbors woken by phone technician blasting his horn and flashing lights as he tried to call for help



A father-of-four was bludgeoned to death while he worked the night shift after a convicted criminal beat him with a crowbar when he refused to hand over his wallet.



Kevin Mashburn, 58, was doing repairs for AT&T last Wednesday morning when he was reportedly set upon by Bryan Middlemas, using the crowbar from work truck.



Police investigating the horrific murder have released the last text messages that the technician sent to colleagues as he lay dying in his van near an apartment complex in Gladstone, close to Kansas City, Missouri.

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Desperate cry for help: AT&T worker Kevin Mashburn, 58, was assaulted with a crowbar as he worked the nightshift in Gladstone, Missouri. The father-of-four, who had been married for 33 years, later died in hospital

Mr Mashburn sent the first text to another AT&T worker around an hour after he had been attacked.



The 58-year-old had been severely beaten in the head during the brutal assault.



At 2.52am, he wrote to a colleague called Amanda: 'I NEEDE YOU TO CALL ME AN AMBULANCE.'

According to Fox 4 he later wrote: 'I HAVE BEEN ATTACKED... HELP ME PLEASE.'

He later texted another colleague called Gracie and told her he had been badly hurt with his 'head split open'.



Previous convictions: Kevin Mashburn, 35, has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly bludgeoning an AT&T worker to death with a crowbar in Missouri

Accused: Middlemas, 35, appeared in court on Monday over the death of Mr Mashburn. He was held on $1million bond and could face the death penalty if found guilty

Mr Mashburn repeatedly honked the horn and flashed the lights of his truck as an emergency crew frantically searched the area for him.

He was found unconscious and not breathing at 3.30am. He was taken to local hospital but died of injuries.

Mr Mashburn had been married for 33 years and has four children and one grandchild.

A FINAL CRY FOR HELP

These are the final messages Kevin Mashburn sent to colleagues as he waited for help:

Kevin (2:52:24am): Amanda I NEEDE YOU TO CALL ME AN AMBULANCE Kevin (2:52:37): I HAVE BEEN ATTACKED Kevin (2:52:57): HELP ME PLEASE

Kevin (2:53:32): I am in Gladstone, MO AT THE KENDALLWAOOD APAT. COMPLEX OFF ANTIOCH Kevin (2:54:01): DO YOU READ ME? Amanda (3:11:20): I got it

Kevin (2:55:13): GRACIE ARE YOU THERE?

Gracie (3:11:06): I’M HERE NOW

Gracie (3:11:11): I WAS IN A MEETING

Kevin (3:20:10): need police

Gracie (3:20:43): THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED.. AND SO HAS STRICKLEN

Kevin (3:20:47): hurry

Gracie (3:21:14): THEY ARE EN ROUTE

Kevin (3:21:07): ok

Kevin (3:21:14): ok

Gracie (3:21:21): STRICKLEN EN ROUTE

Kevin (3:21:38): ok

Kevin (3:24:03): was attacked wiyh a flat crowbar Gracie (3:24:40): we are praying

Gracie (3:25:08): you hurt bad?

Kevin (3:25:12): yes

Kevin (3:25:37): head split open

Gracie (3:26:15): stricklin on line.. can you give us an exact location we have the address

Gracie (3:26:21): he is trying to find you

Gracie (3:26:45): he is trying to find you

Kevin (3:26:45): near crossbox. Beacon and flasher are on

Kevin (3:27:25): I can sound horn

Gracie (3:29:10): yes

Gracie (3:29:10): us are on kendallwood

Kevin (3:30:44): yes

Gracie (3:32:10): are you near a business… can not hear you horn but keep sounding Source: Fox 4 Kansas City



He had worked for AT&T for 41 years and had been carrying out his typical 12am-8am shift alone when he was attacked.

Mr Mashburn, was a wonderful and gentle man, his son Bill told KCTV.

His daughter later described her father as someone who would have given the shirt off his back to anyone.



Bill said: 'If everybody had a Dad like mine, like ours, then stuff like this wouldn't happen.'

AT&T offered $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of his attacker.



On Saturday night, a tip-off led police to 35-year-old Middlemas, who has previously served time in prison for assault and drug possession.

Middlemas allegedly called an old cellmate and confessed to clubbing Mr Mashburn with the crowbar.

The accused told his criminal friend that he had tossed the murder weapon into nearby Chaumeire Lake.

Police dive teams were now trawling the deep waters for the weapon.



The lake is about two acres long and 15 feet deep at some points.



Sgt Roger Pesek, with the dive team, said that they continued to search the lake but their job was hampered by poor visibility.



It is unclear whether the weapon has been retrieved.

Middlemas appeared in court on Monday charged with first-degree murder, attempted robbery and other counts.



The 35-year-old pleaded not guilty to the crimes as he stood in handcuffs before a judge at Clay County Circuit Court.



His bond was set at $1million.

Middlemas could face the death penalty or life in prison if found guilty.



The prosecution refused to comment on Monday whether they would seek the death penalty in the case.



A memorial fund has been set up in Mr Mashburn's honor.



Neighbors around the apartment complex in Gladstone reported being woken in the early hours by the sound of Mr Mashburn's horn as he desperately tried to get someone to help him.



The homicide is the fifth to happen in Gladstone this year.

Crime scene: Mr Mashburn sent a series of desperate texts to AT&T colleagues as he lay dying in his work truck during a night shift

Crucial evidence: Suspect Middlemas allegedly told a former cellmate that he had thrown the murder weapon into Chaumeire Lake