Arson Suspect In Custody Admits To Murder
November 21, 2019
Elizabeth Horn
Isaac Estes-Jones
A 30 year old woman is in custody after allegedly murdering a man then setting a house on fire over the weekend. Elizabeth R. Horn, 30, of Reeds Spring, has been charged with murder in the first degree in the death of Walter Scott, 74.
According to a press release from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a residence on OO Highway, just outside Kimberling City, in reference to an ex parte violation on Saturday, November 16. While deputies were on the way to that call, “they were advised that the female suspect had set the victim’s house on fire,” the release states.
When deputies arrived at the scene of the fire, Horn was arrested on suspicion of arson and for violation of an ex parte order. The burning house belonged to the individual with the ex parte order. According to the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, the home was a total loss.
Murder charges filed
While Horn was being processed into the jail, she reportedly stated that she’d killed someone earlier that day. According to Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader, the suspect “just blurted it out” while she was in the jail. According to a statement of probable cause used in filing charges, Elizabeth Horn was being booked into the Stone County Jail when she allegedly said, “I killed someone today.”
According to the probable cause statement, Horn made this admission in front of three correctional officers and the deputy who arrested her. She was asked who she killed. Horn allegedly stated the name of the victim, Walter Scott.
The relationship between Horn and Scott is not entirely clear at this time. “We know that he’d provided her a place to live,” said Sheriff Rader.
After saying the victim’s name, Horn was asked where she had committed the crime. She reportedly refused to answer any more questions without speaking to a lawyer.
Central dispatch was asked to search for the address of the victim to continue investigating. The search turned up an address on Corewood Lane for Walter Scott. This address is located approximately two miles from the house fire on State Highway OO.
When deputies got into the home, they located the victim deceased in the house. He was reportedly stabbed to death. An autopsy has been scheduled by the Stone County Coroner for sometime this week to further determine the cause of death.
Detective Duren investigated the scene. According to the probable cause statement, “during the crime scene investigation, there was nothing discovered that would suggest that another suspect was involved other than Horn.” Blood was allegedly observed on Horn’s clothing and shoes when she was booked into the jail.
According to the felony complaint in this case, the victim was stabbed to death.
House destroyed by fire
The home on OO Highway was declared a total loss by the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District.
According to a press release from the fire district, they were dispatched sometime after 4 p.m. on Saturday for a residential structure fire. The fire was called in by a passerby who also reported someone acting suspicious. This person was later identified as Horn.
Because there was no hydrant nearby, the fire department had to draft water from the nearest hydrant, about five miles away at the intersection of Highway 13 and State Highway DD.
When a hydrant is not available, the fire department sets up a drafting area to shuttle the water to the scene. “When we have to use a lot of water and there’s no hydrant we have to set up a drafting tank. The engine drafts the water from the tank to supply the hose lines fighting the fire. The tankers dump into the tank and go to refill,” said Eric Nielsen, public information officer for the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District.
The fire department did not have the resources available on Saturday to pull water from the lake, although they have done so on many other occasions.
The fire is under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshall. No charges in the fire have been filed as of presstime.
According to Sheriff Rader, the owner of the house that was burned is “of some relation to [Horn].”
Also facing charges from other events
Horn has been charged with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action in the death of Walter Scott.
She also faces a number of felony and misdemeanor charges from a related incident in September of this year.
According to affidavits of probable cause from that event, Horn allegedly assaulted an 83 year old man at an address on Route OO.
The victim in that case stated that Horn pushed her way into the residence then hit the victim repeatedly, causing several lacerations and other injuries.
While deputy Wolfe was taking the victim’s statement, deputy Owens reportedly found Horn walking at the intersection of OO and Welch Road. Horn reportedly denied any involvement in any crime and attempted to keep walking down the road.
When the officer attempted to detain her for questioning, Horn allegedly started to pull away from his grasp and eventually broke away. She was finally detained after the deputy pointed his Taser at her.
Horn allegedly further resisted arrest when deputies were placing her in a patrol vehicle by refusing to put her legs in the vehicle. She kicked one of the officers.
For this incident, Horn was charged with felony domestic assault in the third degree and felony assault of a special victim. She was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and one count of misdemeanor elder abuse.
Her bond was initially set at $25,000 cash or surety on October 1. However, on October 22, Horn was released on her own recognizance, likely due to changes to bail rules set by the Missouri Supreme Court.
Elizabeth Horn is being held in the Stone County Jail without bond at the time of this writing. She will next appear in Stone County court on Friday, November 22, for initial appearance and arraignment, according to online court records.
The investigations into the alleged homicide and arson are still underway. The Sheriff has requested anyone with information related to these events contact the Sheriff’s office at (417) 357-6116.
A 30 year old woman is in custody after allegedly murdering a man then setting a house on fire over the weekend. Elizabeth R. Horn, 30, of Reeds Spring, has been charged with murder in the first degree in the death of Walter Scott, 74.
According to a press release from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a residence on OO Highway, just outside Kimberling City, in reference to an ex parte violation on Saturday, November 16. While deputies were on the way to that call, “they were advised that the female suspect had set the victim’s house on fire,” the release states.
When deputies arrived at the scene of the fire, Horn was arrested on suspicion of arson and for violation of an ex parte order. The burning house belonged to the individual with the ex parte order. According to the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, the home was a total loss.
Murder charges filed
While Horn was being processed into the jail, she reportedly stated that she’d killed someone earlier that day. According to Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader, the suspect “just blurted it out” while she was in the jail. According to a statement of probable cause used in filing charges, Elizabeth Horn was being booked into the Stone County Jail when she allegedly said, “I killed someone today.”
According to the probable cause statement, Horn made this admission in front of three correctional officers and the deputy who arrested her. She was asked who she killed. Horn allegedly stated the name of the victim, Walter Scott.
The relationship between Horn and Scott is not entirely clear at this time. “We know that he’d provided her a place to live,” said Sheriff Rader.
After saying the victim’s name, Horn was asked where she had committed the crime. She reportedly refused to answer any more questions without speaking to a lawyer.
Central dispatch was asked to search for the address of the victim to continue investigating. The search turned up an address on Corewood Lane for Walter Scott. This address is located approximately two miles from the house fire on State Highway OO.
When deputies got into the home, they located the victim deceased in the house. He was reportedly stabbed to death. An autopsy has been scheduled by the Stone County Coroner for sometime this week to further determine the cause of death.
Detective Duren investigated the scene. According to the probable cause statement, “during the crime scene investigation, there was nothing discovered that would suggest that another suspect was involved other than Horn.” Blood was allegedly observed on Horn’s clothing and shoes when she was booked into the jail.
According to the felony complaint in this case, the victim was stabbed to death.
House destroyed by fire
The home on OO Highway was declared a total loss by the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District.
According to a press release from the fire district, they were dispatched sometime after 4 p.m. on Saturday for a residential structure fire. The fire was called in by a passerby who also reported someone acting suspicious. This person was later identified as Horn.
Because there was no hydrant nearby, the fire department had to draft water from the nearest hydrant, about five miles away at the intersection of Highway 13 and State Highway DD.
When a hydrant is not available, the fire department sets up a drafting area to shuttle the water to the scene. “When we have to use a lot of water and there’s no hydrant we have to set up a drafting tank. The engine drafts the water from the tank to supply the hose lines fighting the fire. The tankers dump into the tank and go to refill,” said Eric Nielsen, public information officer for the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District.
The fire department did not have the resources available on Saturday to pull water from the lake, although they have done so on many other occasions.
The fire is under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshall. No charges in the fire have been filed as of presstime.
According to Sheriff Rader, the owner of the house that was burned is “of some relation to [Horn].”
Also facing charges from other events
Horn has been charged with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action in the death of Walter Scott.
She also faces a number of felony and misdemeanor charges from a related incident in September of this year.
According to affidavits of probable cause from that event, Horn allegedly assaulted an 83 year old man at an address on Route OO.
The victim in that case stated that Horn pushed her way into the residence then hit the victim repeatedly, causing several lacerations and other injuries.
While deputy Wolfe was taking the victim’s statement, deputy Owens reportedly found Horn walking at the intersection of OO and Welch Road. Horn reportedly denied any involvement in any crime and attempted to keep walking down the road.
When the officer attempted to detain her for questioning, Horn allegedly started to pull away from his grasp and eventually broke away. She was finally detained after the deputy pointed his Taser at her.
Horn allegedly further resisted arrest when deputies were placing her in a patrol vehicle by refusing to put her legs in the vehicle. She kicked one of the officers.
For this incident, Horn was charged with felony domestic assault in the third degree and felony assault of a special victim. She was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and one count of misdemeanor elder abuse.
Her bond was initially set at $25,000 cash or surety on October 1. However, on October 22, Horn was released on her own recognizance, likely due to changes to bail rules set by the Missouri Supreme Court.
Elizabeth Horn is being held in the Stone County Jail without bond at the time of this writing. She will next appear in Stone County court on Friday, November 22, for initial appearance and arraignment, according to online court records.
The investigations into the alleged homicide and arson are still underway. The Sheriff has requested anyone with information related to these events contact the Sheriff’s office at (417) 357-6116.