Woman accused in University of Missouri student death to undergo mental evaluation

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The woman accused of killing a University of Missouri student and trying to burn his body has been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation to see if she is fit to stand trial.

Judge Jeff Harris issued the ruling ordering the state Department of Mental Health to evaluate Emma Adams on Sunday. Adams is charged with murder, armed criminal action, evidence tampering and abandoning a corpse in the death of Samuel Clemons.

Adams was arrested and charged in January after an investigation that started at the University of Missouri and led to police finding a burning body in a residential area far from campus.

The investigation started when University of Missouri police officers were sent to Hudson Hall at about 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 for a welfare check, which led them to the 2400 block of Bentley Court in north Columbia. Officers found the body there and called Columbia police for a homicide investigation, according to a Columbia Police Department social media post.

Adams allegedly told police she stabbed Clemons in self-defense. Adams has been held on a $1 million since her arrest.

Harris took a request by her defense team to have her committed to a mental health facility and the state's objections under consideration before issuing the order Sunday. The order denies the defense request but orders a mental health evaluation.

Adams' next hearing is set for July 18.