Three charged in Randolph County with missing teen’s kidnapping

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly woman who was arrested last week on suspicion of stealing a Randolph County sheriff's deputy's patrol car has now been charged with kidnapping a 16-year-old girl who has been missing since last week.

Alayna Mason, 20, was charged Wednesday in Randolph County with first-degree kidnapping related to the disappearance of Kayla Huff, also of Moberly. Two other suspects, Hunter Ames, 19, and Christopher Hull, 23, were charged with kidnapping and felony evidence tampering.

"We may file the charges that we're ready to proceed with, that we're comfortable proceeding with at that time," Randolph County Prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford said. "As the investigation unfolds, that could always change."

Huff has been missing since last Wednesday. Dozens of volunteers have been searching the 3,500-acre conservation area southeast of Higbee on foot and horseback for the past several days. One volunteer also told ABC 17 News that officials were seen searching the air with drones and Bennitt Lake with boats.

She was last seen with a 17-year-old boy. An unidentified 17-year-old was taken into custody last week.

A probable cause statement says 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.

The attack allegedly happened in the early hours on Wednesday, May 6, the same day Huff was last seen.

The gun used in the attack was allegedly Ames'. Documents report Mason asked Ames for the gun the morning of May 6, stating that she and an unknown person had someone in the trunk of their car, and she needed the gun to "take care of it."

Ames also allegedly said he and Hull had disposed of a telescoping baton, and later showed investigators its location, the statement says.

"Every case has its unique facts and circumstances and this particular fact pattern is not one I think that I have typically seen in my career," Luntsford said.

All three suspects were in the Randolph County Jail on Wednesday on no bond. Initial court hearings are set for Thursday.

Mason is also accused of stealing a deputy's patrol vehicle the day after Huff went missing.

The gun range at the Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area was blocked off on Tuesday with caution tape and a sign saying it was closed due to the search.