Five people have been charged after a missing teenage girl was found dead more than a week after she disappeared.
Kayla Huff, 16, was reported missing by her family on 6 May.
She was found dead in dense woodland on Wednesday (13 May), according to authorities.
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Alayna Mason, 20, and Hunter Ames, 19, have now both been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, as reported by Need To Know.
Christopher Hull, 23, and Julian Mason, 26, have been charged with kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence, while Skyler Powell, 24, faces a charge of hindering prosecution.
According to probable cause statements obtained by PEOPLE, investigators allege Kayla was abducted, placed in the boot of a vehicle and taken to a wooded conservation area before being assaulted and fatally shot.
Court documents also allege Ames told investigators the teenager had been beaten with a baton before her death.
Authorities later located Kayla’s body in a wooded part of the Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area in Missouri, US.
A further detail included in probable cause documents has also drawn attention in the case.
According to the filings, Alayna Mason allegedly developed a rash after being arrested and told jail staff she believed it was poison ivy she had picked up while in the woods.
Investigators referenced the comment alongside details about the area where Kayla’s body was found.
A motive has not yet been publicly disclosed by investigators.
In a statement, Randolph County Sheriff Andy Boggs described the teenager’s death as a “tragic loss” and said the community had “come together over the course of this investigation”.
He added: “On behalf of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, I want to extend our deepest condolences to Kayla’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
“We mourn alongside this family as they face an unimaginable loss.”
A fundraiser organised by Ashley Carroll on behalf of Kayla’s mother, Christina Huff, described the teenager as “a bright presence” in her family’s life.
The fundraiser stated: “Christina and her little sister Kayla shared a close, loving bond.
“Kayla was not only a cherished sister but also a bright presence in her family’s life.”
The page added that the family had been left “devastated” by Kayla’s death and was seeking support towards funeral costs and lost income while grieving.
Sheriff Boggs said the investigation remains “active and ongoing” and confirmed additional investigative steps were continuing.
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