ST. LOUIS, MO – A Missouri man is facing charges of first-degree murder after allegedly killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child in front of five children, authorities said.
Vanier J. Jones, 28, was arrested last week in connection with the shooting deaths of 35-year-old Christina Lynn Rentchler and her unborn child. Jones is now facing multiple charges, including two counts of murder, armed criminal action, assault, child endangerment, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The incident unfolded on April 23, when officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department were called to a home on Farlin Avenue. There, they discovered Rentchler suffering from several gunshot wounds, including one to the back of her head, according to reports.
An autopsy confirmed that Rentchler, who was in her second trimester, died from the gunshot wounds, which also resulted in the death of her unborn baby, authorities stated.
Terrifyingly, five children, all under ten, witnessed the tragic events. The children include some of Rentchler’s own, according to the probable cause affidavit. An older child recounted to investigators the sequence of events, identifying Jones as the shooter and noting he had recently been staying at the home with Rentchler and her family.
“The accused got angry and shot her,” the affidavit noted from the child’s statement. The brave child explained how she avoided being shot by pretending to be dead as the alleged gunman searched for her mother.
Jones, after his arrest, denied involvement in the shooting, citing an alibi with a person referred to as “Witness 1.” However, police reported that the witness claimed not only that Jones wasn’t with them during the crime, but that Jones confessed to them about the killing.
Further digging into Jones’ background revealed prior felony convictions and that he had evaded federal supervision at the time of the alleged homicide. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident in St. Louis as the community grapples with the loss of Rentchler and her unborn child.