Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.184 (2026)

  565.184.  Abuse of an elderly person, a person with disability, or a vulnerable person — penalty. — 1.  A person commits the offense of abuse of an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person if he or she:

  (1)  Purposely engages in conduct involving more than one incident that causes emotional distress to an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person.  The course of conduct shall be such as would cause a reasonable elderly person, person with a disability, or vulnerable person to suffer substantial emotional distress; or

  (2)  Intentionally fails to provide care, goods or services to an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person.  The result of the conduct shall be such as would cause a reasonable elderly person, person with a disability, or vulnerable person to suffer physical or emotional distress; or

  (3)  Knowingly acts or knowingly fails to act in a manner which results in a substantial risk to the life, body or health of an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person.

  2.  The offense of abuse of an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person is a class A misdemeanor.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean that an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person is abused solely because such person chooses to rely on spiritual means through prayer, in lieu of medical care, for his or her health care, as evidence by such person's explicit consent, advance directive for health care, or practice.