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.
Crime
4 Killed in Eden Crash at Carroll and Church Streets, Driver and Victims Identified
Michael Vernon, driver of dump truck involved charged.
A tragic crash in Eden, North Carolina, has left four people dead and several others injured following a multi-vehicle incident involving a dump truck and a utility work crew.
The Eden Police Department confirmed the incident occurred Thursday afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m. at the intersection of Church Street, Carroll Street, and Park Road.
According to a news release from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP), 66-year-old Michael Ray Vernon of Eden was operating a 2016 Hino dump truck owned by the City of Eden.
While traveling northbound on Carroll Street, Vernon failed to stop at a posted stop sign at the intersection with Church Street.
The dump truck proceeded through the intersection, striking six pedestrians—utility workers contracted through Carolina Power and Signalization—who were performing powerline work in the area.
The dump truck continued traveling north after striking the pedestrians, colliding with an occupied bucket truck before veering off the road and crashing into a ditch.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies arrived at the scene within minutes. Four of the six pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Douglas Garland Sides, 72, of Summerfield
- Madison Carter, 42, of Sandy Ridge
- William Evans, 35, of Randleman
- Matthew Lockwood, 30, of Winston-Salem
The two surviving pedestrians sustained life-threatening injuries and were airlifted to medical facilities.
They have been identified as:
- Hunter Carter, 24, of Reidsville – transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in critical condition
- Kevin Alexander, 34, of Eden – airlifted in stable condition
Cody Rich, 31, of Reidsville, who was inside the bucket truck at the time of the crash, was transported by ground to UNC Health Rockingham with non-life-threatening injuries.
Michael Vernon sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
He has been charged with a stop sign violation and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
Investigators confirmed that impairment is not believed to have played a role in the crash.
Further charges may be considered as the investigation progresses.
The intersection remained closed for several hours as law enforcement officers and emergency crews conducted their investigation.
The area was reopened to traffic at approximately 10:30 p.m.
In a statement, Duke Energy, which works in coordination with Carolina Power and Signalization, expressed condolences:
“We are saddened about the tragic event that happened today, and our hearts go out to the families and teammates of those involved. The safety of our employees, contractors, and customers is the highest priority at Duke Energy. We are working closely with law enforcement officials.”
The NCSHP continues to lead the investigation, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact local authorities.