On November 11, 2019, a twenty-seven-year-old female named Kanika Martin was tragically killed in her home in Spanish Lake, a community within St. Louis County, Missouri. She was inside her townhome located in the 11900 block of Sagunto Court, sitting on her couch during the early morning hours. The events leading to her death began with a domestic dispute involving the father of one of her children, identified as twenty-six-year-old Anthony Farr.
Farr had visited Martin's residence
earlier that night, where the two engaged in a heated argument concerning child support payments for their shared son. Following the confrontation, Farr exited the apartment but remained outside the building. The dispute continued over a phone call between the two while Martin remained indoors. Shortly after the call ended, gunshots were fired from the outside through the front living room window of the apartment. Martin, who was still seated on the sofa, was struck by the gunfire and sustained fatal injuries. Police later discovered shell casings on the grassy area outside the window, confirming the shots had been fired from the exterior of the home.
Investigators quickly identified Farr as the primary suspect in the homicide. Following the shooting, he fled the scene but was subsequently located and arrested by law enforcement at a residence in Ferguson, Missouri. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office initially charged Farr with first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action. He was held in custody as the legal process moved forward.
In April 2022, nearly three years after the incident, Anthony Farr appeared in court and admitted to his role in the killing. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other related charges. The guilty plea was entered without a plea agreement, leaving his sentencing to the discretion of the court. Prosecutors emphasized the heinous nature of the crime, noting that the violence stemmed from a dispute over financial responsibility for a child. Farr was scheduled for sentencing later that year, facing a significant prison term for his actions.
