4 charged in Moberly teen’s death appear in court, hearings scheduled for next month

HUNSTVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

Four people charged in connection with the death of a Moberly teenager appeared in court on Monday.

Alayna Mason, 20, and Hunter Ames, both of Moberly, are charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in the death of 16-year-old Kayla Huff. Ames faces an additional charge of tampering with evidence.

Dave Kirschner was assigned as a special public defender for Mason. She has a hearing scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, while Ames has a hearing scheduled for bond hearing at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 1.

Christopher Hull, 23, and Julian Mason, 26, both of Moberly, also appeared in court. They are both charged with kidnapping and tampering with evidence. They have a hearing scheduled for at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 1.

All four people are being held at the Randolph County Jail without bond and Hull, Ames and Julian Mason all applied for a public defender. A juvenile is also accused in the case.

Huff went missing earlier this month and was found dead by authorities last week.

A probable cause statement says Alayna Mason told investigators that she, with help from Ames and Hull, had taken Huff to the Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area in Randolph County with an unknown person in the trunk of a vehicle, where they beat and shot her. Ames allegedly told investigators that the group killed Huff, court documents in previous reporting show.

Court documents in Julian Mason’s case say he helped to pour motor oil into the gas tank of Huff's car and helped dispose of a telescoping baton reportedly used in the crime near the Chariton/Carroll County line.

Alayna Mason is also charged with stealing a vehicle, stealing a gun and escaping confinement after she allegedly stole a Randolph County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle.

Skyler Powell, 24, of Moberly, was accused of helping Alayna Mason evade police and was charged with hindering the prosecution of a felony. He is also being held at the Randolph County Jail and is due back in court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday for a bond hearing.

Check back for updates.