Columbia man accused of dumping woman’s body court appearance delayed

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The man accused of dumping a woman's body in a trash bin in the Perche Creek over the weekend had his court date moved after failing to appear on Wednesday afternoon.

Capt. Brian Leer with the Boone County Sheriff's Office told ABC 17 News that the delay was due to an unforeseen circumstance.

Acton was charged with abandoning a corpse and evidence tampering.

Andrew B. Acton, 53, of Columbia, was arrested Monday evening during a traffic stop after law enforcement found his Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck matched a similar vehicle seen entering the Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on May 11. A security camera in the area observed that the truck was carrying a City of Columbia trash bin, similar to the one in which the body was found inside.

The trash can was initially recovered on Sunday by a fisherman at the Providence boat access who reported seeing a human leg wrapped in a blanket inside.

Leer adds that the security camera was a Flock security camera. He also confirmed that Acton was stopped on Monday at the Phillips 66 Gas station in the 1000 block of North Stadium Boulevard.

Court documents also report that Acton is an admitted drug user. He is currently in the Boone County jail without bond.

Other court and County Assessor Documents also report that Acton owes the counrt nearly $8,000 in property taxes from 2023 and 2024.

Acton's last listed address is in the 3000 block of Bray Avenue in southwest Columbia. County records show the home was foreclosed on in March, with the property being purchased by HBH Holdings at the end of the month.

An ABC 17 News reporter spoke with neighbors in the area who claimed they didn't often interact with the people at the home. They also reported that in the last few months, the outside of the home became unkempt.

According to documents from the Missouri Secretary of State's office, Acton was a former owner of the now-closed 63 Diner in Columbia.

Acton's initial hearing was rescheduled for May 26 at 1 p.m. in the Boone County Courthouse.

Authorities have not publicly identified the woman or given her age.