Pair charged in deaths of family members

Two dead, two arrested

Callaway County Sheriff Dennis Crane said two people were arrested at a Columbia motel Tuesday evening, accused of killing two residents at 2639 County Road 324, west of Fulton. Lt. Clay Chism of the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department is also pictured.
Callaway County Sheriff Dennis Crane said two people were arrested at a Columbia motel Tuesday evening, accused of killing two residents at 2639 County Road 324, west of Fulton. Lt. Clay Chism of the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department is also pictured.

The first homicides in Callaway County in nearly two years resulted in the arrest of two people Tuesday night at a Columbia motel, Sheriff Dennis Crane said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

“There is a $5 million bond on each,” he said of the two suspects.

Cobblestone Project volunteers (from right) Raigon Copeland of Rogers, Josh Mapili and Erica Durr, both of Fayetteville, break up soil Saturday where turnips and beets are to be planted on the farm of David Carter in Benton County.
Cobblestone Project volunteers (from right) Raigon Copeland of Rogers, Josh Mapili and Erica Durr, both of Fayetteville, break up soil Saturday where turnips and beets are to be planted on the farm of David Carter in Benton County.
 European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn addresses the media at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Sunday April 11, 2010. Finance ministers of the 16 euro nations met in a video conference to discuss the technical details of a financial aid package for Greece.
European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn addresses the media at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Sunday April 11, 2010. Finance ministers of the 16 euro nations met in a video conference to discuss the technical details of a financial aid package for Greece.

Columbia police officers located and arrested Dale Lee Horton, 35, and Jennifer Ann Grayson, 27, at the hotel where their car was found, according to Crane. The suspects, for whom no home address was given, were transported back to Callaway County where they were interviewed and given multiple charges.

“There are more charges on the male than the female,” Crane said, adding Dale Lee Horton admitted to first wounding his mother-in-law, Sherry Horton, and then killing his brother-in-law, Joshua Griffith.

“Time lapsed,” said Lt. Clay Chism, of the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department, who helped interview the suspects after they were arrested. “He returned and killed her.”

Crane said sheriff’s officials received the original call about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday about a possible shooting at 2639 County Road 324, west of Fulton. When deputies responded, they found Sherry Horton and Griffith deceased from gunshot wounds, Crane said.

A 2003 Toyota pickup owned by Sherry Horton and her husband, Dale D. Horton, was missing from the property but discovered a short distance away.

Deputies interviewed neighbors and Dale D. Horton, whose whereabouts during the incident were not released. Through those interviews, Dale Lee Horton and Grayson were developed as suspects, the sheriff said.

“Everybody in the neighborhood was extremely cooperative,” Chism said.

The couple was located about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Welcome Inn on Providence Road in Columbia, according to Chism. At the motel was a 9mm handgun, which Dale Lee Horton later admitted using to commit the murders, according to the probable cause statement.

“Horton stated that he had deliberated about committing the murders and intended to force entry into the residence to commit the murders,” Chism said, reading from the probable cause statement addressing Dale Lee Horton’s arrest.

Also according to the probable cause statement, Dale Lee Horton said during the interview Grayson was inside the home with him and verbally berated Sherry Horton prior to her death. He also admitted to stealing jewelry and the Toyota truck.

Dale Lee Horton was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, one count of stealing a motor vehicle (first offense) and first-degree assault.

Grayson was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of assault in the first degree, according to her probable cause statement.

A third, unnamed person was also arrested but later released. At the hotel, children shared between Dale Lee Horton and Grayson were put into the care of state child care workers, Chism stated.

“This investigation is just beginning,” Chism said, adding no motive could be released. “We are unable to discuss that.”

He added his thanks to officials from Boone County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbia Police Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol for assisting.

“It was a team effort to get these suspects arrested and brought back to Callaway County,” he said.

Editor's note: This article updates and elaborates on information first reported on Wednesday in the News Tribune and Fulton Sun.