http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/man-lured-girl-motel-snacks-killed-cops-article-1.2126880
A Missouri man, fresh out of jail for a burglary case, allegedly used snacks to lure a 6-year-old girl into his motel room and strangle her.
John Roberts, 55, is charged with first-degree murder for the death of kindergartener Jasmine Miller, the Branson Police Department said.
Roberts was staying in the Windsor Inn in Branson. Police found Miller’s body under his bed Saturday evening while searching the area after receiving a missing child report. Police believe Roberts acted alone but has not given any motive or said if the two knew each other.
Miller disappeared earlier on Saturday and about 100 people looked for her before police made the grisly discovery in Roberts’ room,
KY3 reported.
Miller and her family were also staying at the motel as a “temporary living arrangement,” Taney County Prosecutor Jeffrey Merrell said.
Roberts got out of jail earlier this month after posting $171 bail for second-degree burglary. In that case, he allegedly broke into an apartment and stole $70. His bond was originally set at $15,000 but prosectors negotiated a much smaller amount so he could reimburse the victim.
The victim faxed a request to prosecutors that Roberts not be released on bail, but the fax was never received, KY3 reported.
Miller was enrolled in Cedar Ridge Primary School in Branson and had only attended five days of school, principal Shelly Worley
told the Springfield News-Leader.
“In that short time, she was described as a beautiful, loving and kind-hearted girl,” Worley said.
A neighbor at the motel, Kristan Patterson,
told KSPR that Roberts was a “kind man who liked to laugh.”
“I can't believe he would do something like that. I would have never imagined him to have that kind of a thought in his head to do something like that,” she said.