HERMANN, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri Highway Patrol says a man and a young boy whose bodies were found last week died in a murder-suicide.
The bodies of 4-year-old Bentlee J. Turner and 37-year-old Monty Jason Barton were found Sept. 16 in rural Gasconade County.
The patrol said Monday investigators concluded Barton killed the boy with a single gunshot wound the head before fatally shooting himself. The conclusions were announced after autopsies performed by the Boone County Medical Examiner.
Both lived in Belle. Barton was described as a friend of Bentlee's family.
Bentlee was reported missing Sept. 16. Barton's car and the two bodies were found later that night.