Barry County, Missouri — A missing woman from Exeter was discovered dead, and a man has been detained and charged in connection with her death.
According to a Facebook post by the Barry County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), 24-year-old Aspen Lewis was last seen at her Exeter home early on November 25. Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd confirmed to OzarksFirst that her body was discovered and Aaron Malone was arrested in connection with her death.
According to online court documents, Malone faces charges of second-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence.
According to a probable cause statement from the BCSO, deputies were summoned to a residence on November 25 to investigate a possible kidnapping. Malone reported Lewis missing and provided both verbal and written statements on her disappearance.
According to documents, officers noticed blood streaks on the road behind Malone’s truck and on the vehicle, as well as disturbed gravel in the driveway where jewelry pieces were discovered. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) examined the blood and determined it was human.
According to the probable cause statement, nearby camera footage shows Malone’s vehicle arriving at the property sometime after 11:30 p.m. on November 24.
Screaming could be heard on the video shortly after, and Malone was shown driving away in his pickup at 1:30 a.m. before returning more than two hours later. Documents also state that Malone called 911 before returning.
When Sheriff Boyd and another officer approached Malone, he said he’d escort them to Lewis’ body.
Boyd said Lewis was located on the side of a rural road near Shell Knob. According to documents, her body was covered with leaves and sticks, and she had suffered serious head damage. According to records, Malone later admitted to having an altercation with Lewis and disposed of his body.
According to Boyd, Malone is being held in the Stone County Jail while awaiting a jail transfer. Malone is also being held without a bond.