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Man Charged With Stabbing Parents To Death, Then Shooting Their Toddler Daughter

The toddler was kept locked in a room overnight with dogs after her parents were killed, then kidnapped and shot in the woods.

By Sowmya Krishnamurthy

A Missouri man has been charged with the gruesome killing of a toddler and her entire family. According to Fox News, 24-year-old Drew Atchison of Williamsville, Missouri has been charged in the deaths of 23-year-old Samara Fontaine Kitts, her high school sweetheart and boyfriend, 24-year-old Harley Michael Million, and their toddler daughter, 17-month-old Willa Fontaine Million (all seen above from their 2018 holiday photo).

Atchison reportedly fatally stabbed the two parents on Thursday at their home, per court documents. He then placed the bodies in the truck belonging to Million. The toddler was kept locked in a room overnight with dogs. The next day, the suspect returned to the home to apparently destroy evidence of the crime. At that point, he kidnapped the toddler and took her to the woods nearby. He disposed of the murder weapon, which was the knife he used on the parents, and then fatally shot the child.

No motive has been listed for the triple homicide. It is unclear how, if at all, the suspect knew the victims.

As People reports, the three bodies were found on Monday after authorities went to the home and saw signs of foul play. They initially  investigated the home after the family wasn't heard from in days. An Endangered Person Advisory was issued by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at the time to search for the parents and toddler.

The bodies were eventually found buried on privately-owned land near Highway JJ in Butler County, per the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

As the New York Post reports, Atchison has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and child kidnapping. He reportedly confessed to the crime and is currently incarcerated. No information about his legal representation is currently known.

From Samara Kitts' Facebook  page, she was originally from Carrabelle, Florida. She studied at Three Rivers College and worked in home health. "I am the other of a wonderful daughter," she said in her Intro section on Facebook.

People on social media shared their condolences. "Samara  Kitts Harley and Willa rest in peace...You are so very much loved and will be missed," tweeted one person.

[Photo: Facebook, Wayne County Sheriff's Office]

 

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