What started as a search warrant on a quiet stretch of Lundy Road has turned into one of Texas County’s most disturbing cases in recent memory. Chaun and Tamla Asbury of Bucyrus are now facing a new slate of felony charges after deputies executing a March 10 search of their property uncovered skeletal remains and three juveniles living in squalid, abusive conditions. One child was reportedly found locked in a shed, bound to a bed and severely malnourished, and investigators say the home showed signs of repeated physical restraint and neglect. Both parents remain behind bars while prosecutors and child-welfare officials keep digging into what happened on that rural property.
According to the Texas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies with the agency’s Special Response Team served the warrant on March 10 and located a shallow grave containing skeletal remains while removing three juveniles from the residence. One of the children required urgent medical care after being rescued, KY3 reported. Deputies said the family was living in filthy conditions, in a residence without utilities or sewer, and documented evidence of physical abuse and what they described as unnecessary restraint of children.
How the remains were identified
Texas County Sheriff Scott Lindsey told the Houston Herald that investigators turned to the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office to figure out whose remains had been found. A dental comparison confirmed the skeleton was that of the couple’s missing son, Ceasar Asbury. Officials say that identification was a turning point in the case and factored into the decision to pursue more serious charges while widening the scope of the investigation.
Charges and indictment
Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens has now filed additional counts, including second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, abandonment of a corpse and multiple counts of domestic assault and child abuse, according to a recent update from the Douglas County Herald. The Asburys were first charged in March with five counts of child abuse and held on cash-only bonds. Court records now show they are being held without bond as the new indictment moves forward.
Children’s services and response
After deputies removed the juveniles from the property, the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division stepped in to arrange placement for the children. At least one child received emergency medical treatment for severe malnutrition, Ozark Radio News reported. The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control was also called in to help process the scene and collect evidence.
What’s next
Authorities say the investigation is far from over. The case remains active, and more charges could be filed as forensic testing comes back and additional interviews are conducted, officials told KY3. For now, all counts remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court. Hearings and pretrial proceedings are underway at the Texas County Justice Center.
