Autopsy reveals Missouri girl died of strangulation
GOLDEN CITY, MO (KCTV/AP) -
Authorities say an autopsy conducted on a 12-year-old girl whose body was found earlier in the week in southwest Missouri determined the cause of death to be strangulation.
Bobby D. Bourne Jr., 34, of Lockwood, is being held on $2 million bond on charges of child kidnapping, forcible and statutory rape and first-degree murder, according to court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
Adriaunna Horton was reported missing Monday shortly after she was last seen getting into Bourne's vehicle in Golden City, where she lived with her father.
Bourne was arrested about two hours later in Golden City and denied picking up Adriaunna. He told authorities he had no knowledge of where she was.
However, during questioning, Bourne admitted to picking up Adriaunna near the park and driving her to an abandoned home, court records state. He then questioned her as to the location of her father, James Horton.
James Horton said Bourne once worked for him and that their children played together. Adriaunna's mother, Wendi Jackson, is from Overland Park.
Bourne claimed Adriaunna ran away from him, fell down and died as a result of falling, court records state.
He then led investigators to a wooded area southeast of Golden City where he told authorities where her body was located.
Law enforcement officers and volunteers conducted a massive search for the girl and her body was found Wednesday on private land in a rural area of neighboring Dade County.
According to a probable cause statement, based on observations made of Adriaunna's body there was evidence that she was sexually assaulted.
Bourne's attorney, Alex Reiter, didn't immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
