Cold Case Unit makes arrest in 1987 homicide

Posted 12/31/19

More than 32 years after the crime occurred, a man has been arrested for the strangulation death of a woman whose body was found near St. Clair. Sheriff Steve Pelton credits his newly formed Cold …

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Cold Case Unit makes arrest in 1987 homicide

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More than 32 years after the crime occurred, a man has been arrested for the strangulation death of a woman whose body was found near St. Clair. Sheriff Steve Pelton credits his newly formed Cold Case Investigations Unit with solving the decades-old mystery.

On June 24, 1987, the body of a female victim was discovered in a wooded area along the North Service Road approximately two miles west of St. Clair. She was discovered in a state of decomposition, bound at the wrists and around the neck. The St. Louis Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be strangulation by ligature. The victim was later identified as Karla Jane Delcour of St. Clair.

Investigators retraced her last steps in the town of St. Clair and determined her murder occurred on or around June 21, 1987 at a residence off Iron Hill Road, Union. At the time, investigators spoke to several potential witnesses and/or suspects, but no one was ever charged in her death. Her murder remained unsolved until 2018 when Franklin County Cold Case investigators reopened the investigation into her murder. Franklin County detectives traveled to Texas, Arizona and locations inside Missouri to re-interview suspects and witnesses. They believed enough evidence existed to charge at least one person with her murder. The original report was updated and submitted to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.

On Dec. 23, Kirby R. King, 64, was arrested and charged with second degree murder with bond set at $100,000. Pelton told The Republican that while King received mail at a Gray Summit address, he traveled for work. King was interviewed by detectives in Katy, Texas.

Pelton says many details of her murder are still not being released, “There is a long way to go to reach justice for Karla Delcour and her family and a premature release of information might hinder that.”

The Cold Case Investigations Unit spent countless hours investigating this case, Pelton noted. The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office also conducted an extensive review of the case.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office established a team of investigators to reexamine cases which remain unsolved. The unit consists of four retired law enforcement investigators and one full time detective with a combined experience of approximately 150 years.

The Cold Case investigators review original case reports, follow up on new avenues of investigation and re-interview witnesses and/or suspects when needed. Sometimes a fresh perspective combined with advances in science and technology aid in furthering an investigation when all original leads have been exhausted.

Pelton believes that in every case somebody has information which could help solve an investigation. Sometimes that information seems small, but turns out to be very important. Sometimes new technology helps rejuvenate an old investigation. However, there have been cold cases solved because a witness, a friend or a relative is located and new information is learned that brings a killer to justice.

If anyone has any information regarding an unsolved homicide or missing person from Franklin County, regardless how seemingly insignificant, Pelton encourages that information be turned over to investigators by calling the detective division at 636-583-2560 or emailing franklincountycoldcase@franklinmo.net.

Cold Case Unit makes arrest in 1987 homicide