A boater’s discovery in Boone County leads to murder charges after months-long timeline emerges
COLUMBIA, MO – A floating trash bin spotted by a boater in Perche Creek led to the discovery of a woman’s body and the arrest of a 53-year-old man now facing multiple felony charges. Investigators say the container, sealed and emitting a strong odor of decomposition, had been dumped in the water weeks earlier in an apparent attempt to conceal the killing.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Andrew Acton is charged with second-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with evidence. The case began on May 17, when a boater reported a “City of Columbia trash bin floating in the water” and noted a strong smell. Deputies responded and located the container.
“Deputies arrived on scene and went with the boater to where the bin was located,” the affidavit states. “The bin was moved to the bank of Perche Creek and opened locating a body of an adult human inside the bin.”
Investigation links truck, trash bin, and dumping site
Authorities canvassed the surrounding area and obtained surveillance imagery showing a red Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck traveling toward the Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, near where the bin was recovered. The image allegedly showed a city trash bin lying on its side in the truck bed.
“The bin recovered and the bin in the bed of the truck had similar unique features, meaning the bin recovered containing the body was consistent with the bin in the truck bed,” the affidavit explains.
Acton was located the following day driving the same truck and agreed to speak with investigators. During questioning, he claimed he could not recall details from the day in question. “The defendant … stated he could not remember anything about that day other than he drove around all day,” the affidavit says. “Despite being given multiple opportunities he never denied dumping the trash bin containing the body.”
Timeline of alleged killing spans months
Investigators believe the woman was killed sometime between Oct. 1 and May 10 before her body was placed inside the trash bin. Prosecutors allege the container was later discarded in the conservation area on May 11.
“The defendant knowingly or with the purpose of causing serious physical injury … caused the death of [the woman] by strangling/smothering her,” the criminal complaint states. “The defendant suppressed or concealed a human body with the purpose to impair its availability in a death investigation, an official investigation, and thereby impaired and obstructed the prosecution.”
Authorities say the body was dumped “in hopes the body would not be discovered,” according to the affidavit. A motive has not been released.
Acton remains held in the Boone County Jail without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 9.
Boone County murder, Perche Creek body found, Andrew Acton charges, Missouri crime news, Eagle Bluffs investigation