Motion for continuance granted for man accused of murdering baby

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man accused of killing his child and abandoning the corpse had his trial delayed on Friday.

Staffone Fountain, 30, of Independence, is charged with first-degree murder and abandoning a corpse. He is being held without bond in the Boone County Jail. A pre-trial conference was initially set for Friday.

A joint motion for continuance was granted and placed on the Aug. 23 trial setting docket. Attorneys are looking at a September or October trial date.

The mother, Lavosha Daniels, 31, is also 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. Her next hearing is set for 9 a.m. Monday, June 5 at the Boone County Courthouse.

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.

Columbia Police Department Chief Geoff Jones said in June 2022 that the baby died two years before her remains were discovered.