In the early morning hours of Sunday, January 22, 2023, a tragic double homicide occurred at a residence in the 800 block of Southwest Street in Sikeston, Missouri. Authorities were called to the scene where they discovered 33-year-old Kiara D. Haynes, a Black male, deceased from fatal gunshot wounds. His wife, 27-year-old Breana C. Conner, was also found at the home suffering from critical injuries. She was transported to a local hospital but later succumbed to her wounds.
Haynes, who was affectionately known as 'Yer' or 'Nova' by friends and family, was remembered as a free-spirited individual and a chef who enjoyed traveling.
Following the discovery of the victims, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, assisted by the Major Case Squad, launched an intensive investigation to identify the perpetrator. The inquiry quickly pointed toward a suspect residing out of state. Investigators identified 33-year-old Cornelius Martel David of Powder Springs, Georgia, as the alleged shooter. Working in coordination with law enforcement officials in the Atlanta area, authorities located David in DeKalb County, Georgia, where he was taken into custody.
Cornelius David was subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was issued a no-bond warrant and extradition proceedings were arranged to return him to Missouri to face charges. By August 2023, a preliminary hearing had been conducted in the New Madrid County Circuit Court, where the case moved forward as David was ordered to stand trial for the deaths of Haynes and Conner. The investigation revealed that the victims and the suspect were known to each other, though the specific motive was part of the ongoing legal examination.
