07/08/1986 - Report #131 - Victim: Kristen Marcia Edwards - Location: Franklin County, MO
MCS Report #131
Classification: Homicide
Requesting Agency: Franklin County Sheriff’s Department
Date of Activation: 07/08/1986
Commander and Department: Lt. B.J. Nelson, Arnold PD
Deputy Report Officer and Department: Sgt Tim McEntee, St. Louis Metropolitan PD
Victim: Kristen Marcia Edwards
Suspects: Kenneth T. Avery Jr.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad in investigating the death of Kristen Edwards (age 25). On 07/06/1986 at 8:30am, Kristen was reported missing by her husband after last being seen on 07/05/1986 at approximately 1:30pm. A search was actively underway for Kristen when two searchers located her body two days later. When deputies arrived in a heavily wooded area near the intersection of Lollar Branch Road and Spring Creek Road at Highway JJ (near Stanton, MO), they found Kristen Edwards deceased. She was nude with her hands bound behind her back and a pair of socks tied around her neck. An autopsy showed she had been strangled.
With the assistance of this investigation and the Franklin County’s Cold Case Unit, Kenneth Avery Jr. (age 59) was charged 34 years later on 12/01/2020 with 2nd Degree Murder in Kristen’s death. He was 25 years old at the time Kristen was killed. His bond was set at $500,000.
Press Conference December 2020
