On the morning of December 1, 2021, authorities in Franklin County, Missouri, responded to a distress call regarding a person lying on the ground near a vehicle. Deputies arrived at the scene near the intersection of State Highway 100 and Country Air Drive in Pacific shortly after 7:00 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless body of Kiley Kennedy, an 18-year-old female from Eureka who was a senior in high school.
Preliminary examination revealed she had sustained a single gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis to lead the homicide investigation. Detectives quickly developed leads indicating that the victim had been directed to that specific location by acquaintances. Investigators determined that an altercation had occurred involving money and narcotics, which escalated into violence. During the course of the inquiry, law enforcement located and seized a 9mm handgun from a residence in Pacific, which ballistics experts believed to be the weapon used in the shooting.
Two teenagers were swiftly identified as suspects and taken into custody. While they were initially detained as juveniles, the severity of the crime led to them being charged as adults. Michael Drake and Jacob Devoto were formally accused in connection with the slaying. Prosecutors filed charges including second-degree murder and first-degree robbery against both individuals, with Drake facing an additional count of armed criminal action.
The legal proceedings continued for several years following the tragedy. In January 2025, Michael Drake appeared in court and entered a guilty plea for the murder of the teenager. Following his plea, a judge sentenced him to twenty-five years in prison. The case highlighted the devastating consequences of the dispute, bringing a somber conclusion to the investigation that had begun on that roadside in Pacific years earlier.
