Missouri Woman Charged with First-Degree Murder for Killing 93-Year-Old Neighbor

A 27-year-old woman named Kelisha Reeves has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Diana Barco, a 93-year-old woman found deceased in her home on June 9. Police were alerted to Barco's condition when a caretaker noticed her walker outside and discovered her body face-down in the shower, undressed from the waist up and wrapped around a handheld showerhead. The investigation revealed that Barco had been stabbed multiple times in the head and neck and strangled.

Reeves was identified as a suspect following an arson incident near Barco's residence on June 8. A witness reported hearing Reeves say, "If I can’t have a place to live, neither can you," after the fire. Additionally, Barco’s family noticed her credit card missing from her wallet upon gaining access to the house post-mortem. The credit card was later found in Reeves' possession on June 13 when she was arrested for property damage charges.

During an interview with police on June 15, Reeves claimed that Barco had authorized her as a user on the stolen credit card so she could have a place to stay safely. However, evidence at the crime scene, including fingerprints matching those of Reeves, contradicted this account. The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office announced the murder charge against Reeves on June 23 and set her bond at $1 million.

The prosecutor's office expressed condolences to Barco's family and friends, emphasizing the devastating impact of such an incident on the community. This case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals who may fall victim to exploitation or violence due to their isolation or reliance on caregivers.