Hearing held for man accused of murdering baby; autopsy report still not available
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A hearing was held Friday at the Boone County Courthouse for a man accused of murdering his baby.
Staffone Fountain, 30, of Independence, appeared by video from the Boone County Jail. He is charged with first-degree murder and abandoning a corpse. He is being held without bond in the Boone County Jail.
Samone Daniels, who was 4-5 months old, was found dead outside of a tire store in 2019. The child was killed after they were allegedly strangled by Fountain.
On Friday, Fountain's case was pushed to a later date because an autopsy report was still not available. His next court date has not been announced.
Columbia Police Department Chief Geoff Jones said in June that the baby died two years before her remains were discovered.
A breakthrough in the case came when a person turned in a letter found June 14 at the Super 8 motel connecting the parents to the baby's remains, police said. The baby's mother wrote the letter, which was addressed to Columbia police, Hunter said.
The mother, Lavosha Daniels, 31, is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond, according to Boone County Sheriff online records. She was charged with first-degree child endangerment and abandoning a corpse.
A court date for Lavosha Daniels was not available.
