What began as a missing person case tied to a Soulard apartment has turned into a homicide charge, after St. Louis police say a 27-year-old man admitted to shooting his ex-boyfriend and dumping his body in the Mississippi River.
Prosecutors have charged Ahmad K. Jackson, 27, with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse in the death of 24-year-old Ross Harris, who lived in the Soulard neighborhood. As of Thursday, authorities said Harris’s body still had not been recovered from the river.
St. Louis City prosecutors filed charges this week and say Jackson is being held without bond, according to KSDK. Police had executed a search warrant at Jackson’s home and arrested him as investigators followed leads into Harris’s disappearance earlier this month. Prosecutors told reporters that an arraignment date had not yet been set.
Detectives were tipped off when a witness said Harris’s phone last pinged at Jackson’s residence, according to investigators. Family members also turned over a voicemail in which Jackson allegedly said he planned to kill Harris and that they “wouldn’t be able to recognize him afterward,” the reports state. Harris was last seen leaving his apartment on the 1200 block of Soulard Avenue. His family reported him missing after a witness said he never showed up to pick them up from the airport, per KFVS.
How Investigators Say the Case Unfolded
According to phone records and investigators’ accounts, Jackson traveled to St. Charles to purchase a firearm before driving to Harris’s residence and later returning to his own home. During searches of Jackson’s house and vehicle, detectives reported finding several positive blood samples, car mats and cleaning supplies.
After waiving his Miranda rights, police say Jackson initially offered conflicting stories. Investigators report that he ultimately admitted to shooting Harris and dumping his body in the Mississippi River. Those key details were described in reporting by Hawaii News Now and other local outlets.
Search Ongoing, Court Calendar Pending
River crews and police units have been combing the Mississippi and nearby banks for days, but authorities say Harris’s body had not been located as of the latest update. Jackson remains jailed without bond, and no court date had been scheduled at the time of publication, according to KFVS.
Investigators have urged anyone with information about Harris’s disappearance or the events surrounding his death to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s tip line.
Legal Status
Jackson is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse, all felony-level accusations under Missouri law. The charges are allegations, and Jackson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Prosecutors told reporters they will continue building the case as investigators search for Harris and work to corroborate physical evidence, according to KSDK.
