KANSAS CITY, MO – A 27-year-old Missouri woman has been charged with first-degree murder following the brutal killing of a 93-year-old woman inside her home in early June.
Discovery At Briarcliff Road
The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office announced that Kelisha Reeves, 27, is being held on a $1 million bond. She stands accused of killing Diana Barco, 93.
According to official court documents, Kansas City Police officers were dispatched to a residence on Briarcliff Road around 11:00 a.m. on June 9. The victim’s caretaker had discovered Barco deceased in the bathroom.
Gruesome Crime Scene Details
Investigators revealed that Barco was found face down in the shower. A shower head attached to a hose had been pulled out of the wall and wrapped around her upper body.
Large amounts of blood were discovered near the bathroom doorway and on clothing left on the floor. The medical examiner later determined that Barco died from multiple stab wounds to the back of her head and neck, alongside signs of strangulation.
The Investigation and Arrest
Detectives linked Reeves to the crime through a series of events starting on June 8, the suspected day of the murder:
- Prior Incident: Reeves was named as a suspect in a nearby domestic dispute and arson on June 8, where she was allegedly heard saying, “If I can’t have a place to live, neither can you.”
- Stolen Property: Barco’s family reported a missing credit card. Police later recovered the victim’s credit card and personal notes inside Reeves’ purse.
- The Arrest: On June 9, Reeves visited an acquaintance to wash her clothes. The witness noticed her acting strangely, looked her up in Missouri’s court database, and alerted the sheriff’s department regarding an outstanding warrant.
Reeves allegedly claimed to police that the elderly victim had safely invited her in, given her water, and willingly handed over the credit card to help her flee.
Next Steps
“The consequences of this incident are devastating, and we extend our sincerest condolences to the victim’s family,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Reeves is scheduled for a formal bond hearing on June 30.
