Teen in Randolph County killing faces preliminary hearing

HUNTSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Randolph County judge is set to hear arguments over whether a murder case involving a 17-year-old boy is fit to move to trial.

Seventeen-year-old Christopher R. Woods-Bloss will appear in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing for his involvement in the death of 16-year-old Kayla Huff in May. Woods-Bloss was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and first-degree kidnapping in October.

Court documents allege that several suspects kidnapped Huff, put her into the trunk of a car and took her to the Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area, where she was beaten and shot to death.

Woods-Bloss allegedly had an on-and-off relationship with Huff and was one of the last people seen with her the day she disappeared. Co-defendants allegedly tampered with Huff's car, which led to her kidnapping and later covering up evidence of the crime.

Twenty-year-old co-defendant Alayna Mason was allegedly with Woods-Bloss when the two murdered Huff in the conservation area. Another co-defendant reportedly corroborated that Woods-Bloss was there at the time of the murder and that he was physically abusive to Huff.

Mason is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

Three others were allegedly involved in the murder with Mason and Woods-Bloss.

Christopher Hull, 23, is charged with first-degree kidnapping, tampering with evidence, second-degree burglary and first-degree property damage.

Julian Mason, 26, is charged with first-degree kidnapping and tampering with evidence, including second-degree burglary and first-degree property damage.

Hunter Ames is also charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and the additional charge of tampering with evidence. Last month, a judge granted Ames' motion to have his case moved to Linn County.

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