Police allegedly discovered a burning body in a fire pit outside a woman’s home, and charged her with murder.
The University of Missouri campus police responded to Hudson Hall dormitory around 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 10. They arrived at the dorms after a mother called for a welfare check on her son, who has high-functioning autism. Her last contact with him was at 11:30 pm the day before.
KATV reports that dorm cameras captured the missing student entering a ride-share vehicle outside his building around 10:40 p.m. Monday.
Uber gave officers the victim’s last known address, according to KATV. A Columbia Police Department statement says police found “unidentifiable human remains” outside a residence on Bentley Court.
Emma Adams, 20, was arrested at the scene after being questioned. The Columbia Police Department has charged Adams with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with physical evidence, and abandonment of a corpse.
An affidavit reviewed by the Columbia Missourian indicates Adams was asleep when police arrived at the house. Upon entering the property, officers found smoldering human remains burning in her outdoor fire pit.
Outside Adams’ residence, cops allegedly found blood stains leading from the house to a parked vehicle.
The Missourian reports Adams denied previously knowing the victim and said she stabbed him in self-defense when he was “beating” her.
Although the police statement said they “have a good idea” who the burned body belongs to, the victim has not yet been identified.
ABC 17 News reports that Adams is being held at the Boone County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.