Woman faces upgraded charges in fatal stabbing

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) - A Kansas woman faces an upgraded charge in the stabbing death of a man whose body was dumped in a river in northwest Missouri.

The St. Joseph News-Press (http://bit.ly/1EuzYHh) reports that 43-year-old Kelli Hoard, of Elwood, Kansas, initially was charged with second-degree murder in the killing of 28-year-old Richard Berry. Now, she faces charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse.

Issues arose Friday after her defense attorney informed the court she was rejecting a plea bargain. Buchanan County Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins told the judge he'd file the additional charges, in part because of the rejection of the plea offer.

Berry's body was found in April in the Third Fork of the Platte River near Easton. Two men also are charged in the killing.