Teens arrested in death of high school senior found lying near car, Missouri cops say

Two 16-year-old boys were arrested after Missouri officials said a high school senior was found lying dead near her vehicle.

Kiley Kennedy, 18, was a senior at Eureka High School and found dead in Pacific shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, according to a Facebook post the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Following her death, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office requested investigation assistance from the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.

In a news release posted to Twitter on Friday, Dec. 3, the Major Case Squad announced two arrests. The two 16-year-old boys were taken into custody and each charged with one count of second-degree murder.

Officials say Kennedy was directed to the location in Pacific, about eight miles west of Eureka, near state Highway 100 and Country Air Drive..

While there “she was found by the two juvenile males where an altercation developed over narcotics and money leading to the shooting death of Kiley,” authorities said in the news release. She was shot once in the chest.

Law enforcement seized a 9 mm handgun that is “believed to be the murder weapon” from a home in Pacific, and the teensboys were booked into the Charles County Family Court Detention Facility.

In a statement provided to KSDK, Rockwood School District said it is prepared to offer counseling for students and staff.

“Please join us in expressing our deepest sympathy to Kiley’s family and friends, as well as the students and staff at Eureka High School,” the statement says. “Let’s continue to wrap our arms around each other and do all we can to find a way to heal together through this difficult time.”

The case is still under investigation, and officials ask anyone with additional information to call the tip line at 636-583-2560, ext. 1117. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous, or those interested in a cash reward for their information, should call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-8477.

Pacific is southwest of the St. Louis metropolitan area.

This story was originally published December 3, 2021 at 2:35 PM with the headline "Teens arrested in death of high school senior found lying near car, Missouri cops say."