A Missouri woman who was the subject of a reported abduction Wednesday morning in Clayton was found dead in St. Louis.
The Clayton Police Department did not mention the abduction, only that the woman was seen “entering a vehicle with a man … under suspicious circumstances” shortly after 7 a.m.
Family members, however, told KTVI they saw someone force Michelle Hampton into a truck and drive away. The family members followed the truck until a man inside fired shots at them. At that point, they stopped their pursuit and called 911.
At about 11 a.m., Clayton Police said, St. Louis Police responded to a shooting and found the body of a woman, believed to be the victim of the “incident” that Clayton Police did not call an abduction. Clayton Police did say they “believe the victim in this incident was specifically targeted and there are no indications of any further threat to the Clayton community.”
It’s unclear if Clayton Police are doing any further investigation. St. Louis Police are heading up the murder investigation.
KTVI said the body was found in an alley in northwest St. Louis.
Hampton’s brother, Mike Potter, told KSDK that police told the family they believe the shooting victim is Hampton.
“We were told by officers inside that they drove her around a couple different ATMs and made her withdraw money before they shot her five times in the head in the alley,” he said.
Clayton is the county seat of St. Louis County and due west of the city. The body was found several blocks east in St. Louis proper.
