KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Army is taking over the prosecution of a Missouri soldier accused of killing a man the day before attending his wife’s funeral.
The Kansas City Star reported that 22-year-old Justin Cannon of Peculiar faces military charges that include murder. They were filed Friday, the same day Missouri dropped its case.
The killing happened last summer when Cannon returned to the Kansas City-area to attend the funeral of his 16-year-old wife, Amber. Her death was ruled an overdose.
Authorities allege Cannon was camping when he struck 24-year-old Michael Griggs in the head with a rock, killing him. Court documents say Cannon suspected his wife had an affair with Griggs.
Cannon was attending her funeral as authorities searched Truman Lake for Griggs.
Cannon is at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.