Columbia teen charged with murder as adult in death of Macon man found in Boone County

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia juvenile is being charged with murder as an adult in the death of a Macon man whose body was found in February in Boone County.

Kavon Williams, 15, was charged on Tuesday with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office said on March 1 that a 15-year-old was in custody in relation to the death of Malik Jones, 25. Williams is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

Jones was found dead on Feb. 7 in a wooded area near the 6100 block of Creasy Springs Road North, north of Columbia. He was reported missing on Jan. 30. Jones’ mother, Shawna Patterson, had told ABC 17 News on Feb. 8 that she and her daughter were the ones to find his body.

Patterson told ABC 17 News on Tuesday that she received a call from a detective around 4:30 p.m. alerting her to the news that Williams would be charged as an adult. She said for a moment she was filled with joy in having hope that she would soon learn more about the night of her son's death.

However, she said that happiness quickly led to more questions.

"(I've) never heard the name. The name means nothing to me, so to kind of put a name to it again brought a little bit of joy," Patterson said. "But then it brings... it for every one positive thing that happens, it opens up a whole another myriad of questions."

One of the questions Patterson said she still has: Why?

"Like why? Why Malik? I mean, obviously it was money motivated but why take it to that extent? How could a 15-year-old child do a heinous act like this?" Patterson said.

Patterson said she and her family have not been provided with an official cause of death for her son. However, court documents state Jones was shot multiple times.

According to the probable cause statement, Jones traveled to Columbia to sell marijuana to a redacted name and Jones was never heard from again.

It is not immediately clear in the heavily redacted probable cause statement if the redacted name is Williams. The redacted name was seen in videos and photos with weed and large amounts of money, some of which had red stains.

Another video found by police allegedly indicated that the redacted name said “we busted that ol’ boy” while fanning out the red-stained cash, the statement says.

Another person is cited in the statement as hearing about Williams and another juvenile shooting the victim and dumping the body into the woods, the statement says.

ABC 17 News reached out to the Boone County Sheriff's Office. Court documents also say that Williams is in custody for “a previous alleged offense.”

Patterson said she was not told of the details described in the probable cause statement by investigators. She said after learning that he was allegedly killed over a robbery was one of the most surprising parts.

"It's just mind boggling because even if you wanted to rob Malik, he would have given it to you. You know, it didn't have to... it did not warrant him losing his life," Patterson said.

Patterson said she and her family's healing process has been one consisting of good and bad days. Patterson said some days are filled with laughter over memories with her son, while the next day the same memory can lead to tears.

She described Tuesday as a day of learning some answers, but also being reminded of what her son went through. To Patterson, the road ahead consists of showing up to Williams' court appearances and keeping her son's name alive.

She also expects learning more details about the night will be difficult for her and her family to process.

"We could still be left with so many unanswered questions, so just being concerned about are we going to have trial? Are we going to be able to be there? Are we going to get some of our questions answered?" Patterson said. "You know this kid just keep taking and keeps taking and keeps taking and keeps taking from us."