Columbia, Mo. — A southern Missouri man has been charged with murder after Columbia police found a Kansas City woman dead in a motel room this week, court records show.
Nicholas A. Ayres, 35, of Crane, was charged in Boone County Circuit Court with second-degree murder and first-degree domestic assault, according to online court filings. He made an initial court appearance Friday and is being held in the Boone County Jail without bond.
How police say they were alerted
Columbia officers responded to the By The Way Motel, 1306 Range Line St., after Ayres called 911, court documents show. Police records indicate officers arrived at the motel after a second call requesting help.
“He told dispatchers it was an accidental dial,”
According to the records, Ayres first placed a 911 call at about 12:21 p.m. that he later told dispatchers was an accidental dial. When he called a second time, he acknowledged the woman “looked ‘beat up,’” but said he did not hurt her on purpose, the documents state.
Scene, injuries and evidence
Officers discovered 37-year-old Destiny Dunn of Kansas City deceased inside the motel room. Court documents describe bruising on Dunn’s body, including marks on her neck and face, and swollen, discolored eyelids.
Neighbors in rooms adjacent to the motel unit told police they heard a physical altercation at around 11 a.m. the same day, court records say.
During a search of the motel room, officers located Ayres’ phone. Prosecutors say the device contained video files showing Ayres assaulting Dunn repeatedly, including at least one instance in which he punched her in the face. The court filing also notes that officers observed defensive wounds on Ayres’ wrist and torso.
Suspect statements and charging
In an interview with investigators, Ayres admitted to having physical altercations with Dunn but maintained the incidents were accidental, according to court documents. He was charged Thursday in Boone County and appeared in court via videoconference without an attorney; a public defender was later assigned.
A hearing to set bond is scheduled in the Boone County court file. Ayres remains in custody with no bond posted, per jail records cited in the charging documents.
Case status and public information
Prosecutors have filed charges of second-degree murder and first-degree domestic assault. Those filings will advance through preliminary hearings and other pretrial procedures in Boone County Circuit Court. Additional details about the investigation and potential evidence will be addressed in court filings and proceedings.
- Suspect: Nicholas A. Ayres, 35, Crane, Missouri
- Victim: Destiny Dunn, 37, Kansas City
- Location: By The Way Motel, 1306 Range Line St., Columbia
- Charges: Second-degree murder; first-degree domestic assault
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrest status | Held in Boone County Jail without bond |
| Initial 911 calls | First at about 12:21 p.m.; second call prompted police response |
| Neighbor reports | Heard an altercation around 11 a.m. |
| Evidence noted | Videos on suspect’s phone showing assaults; defensive wounds on suspect |
Columbia police and Boone County prosecutors did not immediately release additional information about the investigation beyond the court records cited Wednesday and Thursday. The Boone County Circuit Court docket is expected to list upcoming hearings and filings as the case proceeds.
Domestic-related homicides often spur community concern and highlight the role of law enforcement and prosecutors in coordinating victim services, evidence collection and legal response. Local advocates and law enforcement agencies typically advise anyone with information relevant to the case to contact the Columbia Police Department, and they remind the public that formal determinations of guilt will come through the courts.
This report is based on court documents and Columbia Police Department records made public in connection with the case.
