BUTLER COUNTY, Mo. -- Two people were arrested and face charges in relation to a homicide investigation in Butler County.
The Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs, also with the Butler County Major Case Squad, said two people were arrested in relation to a homicide investigation of a body found in the woods on September 7.
The sheriff's office earlier reported the body was found by fishermen, roughly 10 feet off of a UTV path in the woods.
Dobbs said the body has been identified as Johnathan K. Esparza.
The two suspects arrested are Jonathan Kimbrough, 43 of Chicago, and Wanda Stevens, 31 of Poplar Bluff, Dobbs detailed.
The sheriff also detailed the events leading up to the incident, stating there was a physical altercation between Esparza and Stevens. Dobbs said Kimbrough later shot Esparza multiple times while he was sitting in the driver's seat of a stolen van.
Further information from the sheriff states the two suspects wrapped the victim in a comforter, drove to County Road 611 and dropped off the Esparza's body.
Both Kimbrough and Stevens face charges of 2nd degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action, the sheriff's office reported.
Both were taken to the Butler County Jail.
An autopsy was performed on the body of Johnathan Esparza in Farmington on Monday. The sheriff stated the results indicate the death was from gunshot wounds.
