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Manhunt Continues In Clinton, Missouri Double Homicide

James Horn, Jr.
Sedalia, MO Police Department
James Horn, Jr.
James Horn, Jr.
Credit Sedalia, MO Police Department
James Horn, Jr.

The manhunt continues for James Horn, now wanted in connection with the murder of his former girlfriend, Sandra Sutton, and her 17-year-old son. The  bodies of the woman and her son were found in her brother's home in Clinton, Missouri Thursday morning. 

Sutton's stolen car was found in Sedalia just two blocks from the house where she said Horn had kept her prisoner for months, sometimes confining her in a wooden box. Warrants had been out for Horn in connection with those crimes for about three weeks.

Clinton Police Lt. Sonny Lynch said his department had not been aware that the woman was staying in their community.

“She was advised by a couple of different victim advocates to get a protection order and to inform law enforcement of her location. That was done. But she felt as though she was safe over here staying with her family member, and from talking with the victim advocate folks, she just did not feel like she wanted to do that,” Lynch said.

He said it appeared the two victims had been shot to death.

Surveillance video from a hospital near where Sutton’s car was found in Sedalia showed a person getting out of the car and walking in the direction of the house where Horn allegedly held Sutton captive.

Police cautiously searched that house and two other vacant homes in the area, but found no sign of Horn.

James Horn is a convicted sex-offender who has spent more than 15 years in prison for violent offenses.

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Afternoon reporter Steve Bell brings more than 40 years of news experience to the KCUR newsroom. Fifteen of those years he served as a news or program director. His first newscast was at KANU in 1958. He has hosted news and talk programs on five Kansas city AM-FM stations and two commercial TV stations and was for many years the the signature voice of KCPT-19. Since joining KCUR in 2001, Steve has won two first place awards from Public Radio News Directors International — for best newscast and best feature reporting. He has also received a number of awards from the Missouri Broadcasters Association and the Kansas City Society of Professional Journalists. Steve has a Ph.D. in psychology and dabbles in guitar and banjo playing.