A former Missouri probation and parole officer who later worked at a state correctional facility allegedly murdered his wife in front of several of their children and forced some of them to participate in the abuse, authorities said.
Jonathan G. Houston, 44, was arrested after one of his children called 911 from a hotel. The child quietly told dispatchers that her father had “captured” her and six siblings and had subjected them to years of physical abuse, according to charging documents cited by KOMU.
Deputies went to the Baymont Inn & Suites in Kingdom City on Sunday, where they found the children.
Jonathan G. Houston, 44, faces charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. (Callaway County Sheriff’s Office)
One child told investigators that Houston strangled his wife about 10 months earlier while several children watched, according to court documents. Another child also described witnessing the strangulation and said Houston had told her he intended to kill her mother, later identified by deputies as 37-year-old Aunika C. Houston.
During the alleged attack, Houston reportedly held his wife by the throat while ordering one child to pour hot water over the woman’s legs and another to cover her mouth to silence her screams, the documents state.
Houston allegedly confined his three youngest children in a bathroom and directed the children with him to play loud music so the others would not hear their mother, according to court records cited by KOMU.
Afterward, Houston allegedly placed his wife’s body in a trash bag and discarded it in a dumpster on the hotel property.
Houston allegedly placed his wife’s body in a trash bag and discarded it in a dumpster on the hotel property. (Callaway County Sheriff’s Office)
Aunika Houston was never reported missing following her death.
“Aunika Houston was originally from the State of California and is believed to have been residing in the Central Missouri area for the past several years. Her next of kin has been notified,” the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
According to the charging documents, Houston allegedly told investigators that he killed his wife and had planned the crime beforehand.
“There is no danger to the community. This seems to be an act of domestic violence and it’s very unfortunate for everybody involved,” Callaway County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Curtis Hall told KOMU.
Aunika Houston was never reported missing following her death. (Callaway County Sheriff’s Office)
“At this point we’re 48 hours afterwards on a crime that we’re already 10 months behind on,” Hall said. “We have to be mindful of what we can release and what we should release.”
Houston has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. He remains jailed without bond.
Deputies said the children were placed in protective custody.
Authorities are also investigating Houston in connection with an alleged sexual assault and assaults involving other victims, deputies said.
