Jonathan G. Houston, a 44-year-old former Missouri probation and parole officer, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. According to charging documents, Houston allegedly killed his wife, 37-year-old Aunika C. Houston, in front of some of their children at a hotel in Kingdom City, Missouri.
Deputies responded to a 911 call from one of the children, who had discreetly whispered to dispatchers that her father had "captured" her and her six siblings. The children were found at the Baymont Inn & Suites, where deputies discovered that Houston had allegedly strangled his wife 10 months earlier. One of the children reportedly told deputies that their father had made them help him abuse their mother during the attack.
During the strangulation, Houston allegedly forced one child to pour hot water down his wife's legs and another child to cover her mouth to muffle her screams. He had locked his three youngest children in the bathroom and instructed the others to play loud music to conceal their mother's screams. Houston's wife's body was found in a trash bag in a dumpster on the hotel's property.
Houston allegedly admitted to investigators that he killed his wife and had planned the killing in advance. He is being held without bond and his children have been taken into protective custody. An investigation into the case is ongoing, and Houston is also being investigated in connection with an alleged sexual assault and assaults involving other victims.
The Callaway County Sheriff's Office has stated that there is no danger to the community and that the case appears to be an act of domestic violence.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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