UPDATE, posted 12:47 a.m. Thursday, June 25: The Versailles Police Department has canceled the Endangered Person Advisory for Kiaira Lazae Burris. She has been found and is safe.
Earlier coverage:
The Versailles Police Department continues to investigate leads on a female teenager after she went missing Tuesday afternoon.
According to a news release issued by Versailles City Marshal Chad Hartman, Shyla Henderson called the Versailles Police Department at approximately 9:30 p.m. June 23. Henderson said she received a phone call from a blocked number and she recognized her daughter, Kiaira Lazae Burris, 16, crying in the background and a male voice stated several times "I hid the body."
At this point, the Versailles Police Department entered Burris as a missing and endangered person, Hartman said.
From the police department's investigation Wednesday, Hartman said they learned that Burris left her family's Versailles residence at approximately 3 p.m. and went to a local restaurant. The Missouri Highway Patrol's Endangered Person Advisory report said that restaurant was McDonalds in Versailles.
Hartman said Burris was seen on the east of town in a dark gray four-door Chevrolet Malibu hatchback occupied by two black males. The vehicle had front-end damage, and no license information was obtained, as of press time. Burris had stopped and gotten out of the vehicle, speaking with residents of the neighborhood asking for money.
Hartman said the vehicle was then seen at approximately 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at a local gas station where it fueled up and failed to pay for fuel and left in an unknown direction. Hartman said after further investigation Burris was seen at approximately 7 p.m. at a residence in Columbia. The residents at the Columbia address had no information as to where she was going or whom she was with.
At approximately 2 a.m. Wednesday, Henderson received a text from an Internet app advising her it was Burris and she was fine and at home. Hartman said officers were dispatched to Burris' home address. Officers arrived on the scene and spoke with family members, who said they had not seen Burris.
At one point, the Versailles Police Department wanted to contact Anthony Jerel Primer, Jr., an associate of Burris, to discuss her whereabouts. Hartman said Primer was never a suspect and no longer needs to speak with him at this time.
Hartman said the department continues to receive leads on Burris' disappearance and possible whereabouts.
"We have been receiving 15 to 20 calls an hour on this case," he said. "We also have been told people have seen her on Facebook, however, there is no confirmation of that. There is also nothing posted on Kiaira's Facebook account. From what we know currently, Burris is by herself."
Hartman said they continue to investigate leads in hopes to locate Burris.
Burris is a black female, 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing about 175 pounds. She has brown hair, brown eyes and a tattoo of a rose outline on her left arm. She was last seen wearing a brown and tan sleeveless sundress, black sandals with pearls and was carrying a black backpack containing clothes.
Anyone seeing Burris or has any information related to the endangered missing person should immediately dial 911 to contact the nearest law enforcement agency or call the Versailles Police Department at 573-378-5481.
Earlier coverage:
The Versailles Police Department has issued an Endangered Person Advisory for a missing person incident that occurred at 103 Fairgrounds Rd. at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Missing Is:
Kiaira Lazae Burris a black female, age 16
The endangered missing person:
Kiaira Lazae Burris, is a black female, age 16, height 5'7", 175 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes, with a tattoo of a rose outline on her left arm, last seen wearing a brown and tan sleeveless sundress, black sandals with pearls, and carrying a black backpack containing clothes.
Brief circumstances regarding the Endangered Missing Person incident:
Burris left with a male subject from McDonald's in Versailles at 3:00 p.m. At 9:30 p.m. Burris's mother received a phone call from Burris from an unknown number. Burris was crying and sounded distraught. A male subject came on the line and stated "I hid the body" several times before disconnecting.
The possible suspect is believed to be:
Antonio Jerel Primer Jr, a black, male, age 20, hgt 6'06, 250 lbs, brown eyes
Vehicle Information:
Gray Chevrolet Malibu bearing unknown registration vehicle does have tinted windows and front end damage last seen at 7 p.m. in Columbia.
Anyone seeing the missing person, suspect, associate, or vehicle, or anyone having any information related to the endangered missing person should immediately dial 911 to contact the nearest law enforcement agency or call the Versailles Police Department at 573-378-5481.