SHREWSBURY, Mo. — Two people were charged Tuesday afternoon in connection with a homicide in Shrewsbury.
Robin Holland, 28, was charged with second-degree murder and three other charges and 21-year-old Abigail Miller was charged with abandonment of a corpse in connection with the stabbing death of 33-year-old Justin Hughes.
Officers said Hughes was found stabbed to death in a wooded area behind Walmart Monday night. St. Louis County police were requested to assist the Shrewsbury Police Department in the 7400 block of Watson Road around 9:20 p.m.
Holland and Miller were taken into custody Tuesday morning. According to Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch, charges are being filed against them.
McCulloch said the Holland, Miller and Hughes met up near the Walmart at some point Sunday. They planned to go into the woods to drink and do drugs, but Holland and Hughes got into an argument. McCulloch said Holland stabbed Hughes about five times, left him for dead in the woods and got rid of the knife.
Police are not sure how long the body was left in the woods, but they are still investigating.
Holland was also stabbed during the incident but was treated for those injuries.
He was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, evidence tampering and abandonment of a body. His bond was set at $500,000.
Miller was charged with abandonment of a body. Her bond was set at $100,000.
While the investigation remains active, detectives urge anyone with information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. If you choose to remain anonymous, contact the CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.
Statement by the family of Justin Hughes
The family of Justin Hughes wish to thank everyone for the expressions of sympathy and healing.
Justin was an amazing young man who had returned from the brink of death due to life threatening, health issues 4 years ago. He was a person of amazing resilience and strength. When asked if he wanted to sign a Do Not Resuscitate Order. He wrote, “NO! I WANT TO LIVE!”, and despite the judgement of his Doctors, he DID live. After many months in the hospital and physical therapy he had been working hard to heal his mind, body and spirit and was full of hope. He was to start a new job the day after he was brutally murdered. The future was bright before him. His intelligence, humor and basic kindness will be remembered by all who knew him. We deplore this act of violence that took this wonderful young man who fought so hard to Live from us.
Justin was cremated today at 11:00 am and the family observed a brief remembrance ceremony at Castlewood Park where Justin loved to visit. A Celebration of Life will be held at a date to be determined.
We ask the public and press to respect the privacy of the family in this time of grief.
