Crime
36-year-old Emmanuel Suarez Arrested in Kidnapping and Murder of Michelle Hampton, Motive Revealed
Clayton, MO – Authorities have arrested 36-year-old Emmanuel Suarez in connection with the kidnapping and fatal shooting of 37-year-old Michelle Hampton, whose body was discovered in St. Louis City.
The arrest was made Monday afternoon, and Suarez now faces multiple charges approved by the Circuit Attorney’s Office on Tuesday morning, including:
- First-Degree Murder
- First-Degree Robbery (2 counts)
- Attempted First-Degree Robbery
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
- Armed Criminal Action (5 counts)
The investigation has also uncovered shocking new details about the motive behind the crime, implicating Anjuan Mosby, the boyfriend of Michelle Hampton’s twin sister, Samantha Hampton.
According to federal court documents, Mosby, 43, learned that Michelle Hampton had recently received a $40,000 settlement intended for their brother. Police believe this knowledge prompted Mosby to orchestrate the kidnapping and murder.
Samantha Hampton, who witnessed the kidnapping, revealed in her police interview that Mosby had expressed unusual interest in Michelle’s settlement and that she had recently informed him about the funds. After Michelle’s abduction, Samantha grew suspicious when she couldn’t reach Mosby and feared for her safety upon returning home.
Michelle Hampton was reportedly abducted from her Clayton home at gunpoint. During the ordeal, she was forced to drive to multiple ATMs under threat, with the kidnappers attempting to withdraw money from her accounts.
Court documents indicate that Mosby confessed to playing a direct role in the crime. He admitted to being in the passenger seat of the yellow Dodge Ram used during the abduction and to firing a shot at Samantha’s vehicle when she pursued them. Samantha, who had her children in the car, abandoned the chase after being shot at and felt dismissed when she reported the incident to dispatchers.
Mosby further confessed that after driving to the 4700 block of Greer, he forced Michelle out of the vehicle at gunpoint. He claimed he gave her a chance to run but shot her when she didn’t.
Mosby told police he left his phone at his brother’s house to obscure his location and admitted to conspiring with others to destroy evidence. He stated that an accomplice was tasked with burning the truck, the firearm used in the shooting, and the sweatshirt he wore during the crime.
On Monday, Mosby pleaded not guilty during a federal court appearance, asserting he had planned only to force Michelle to withdraw money before releasing her. Despite his claims, authorities have charged him with a series of grave offenses.
The investigation remains active, with detectives working to identify additional accomplices and follow up on leads. The case has shocked the community, and police urge anyone with further information to come forward. Michelle Hampton’s family continues to grieve the devastating loss, as details of the crime shed light on a calculated betrayal that ended in tragedy.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.