On Friday morning, 16-year-old Maleah Talton was found dead inside a rolled up carpet in a wooded area near a bike trail that goes through Ferguson and leads to the University of Missouri St. Louis. Now police are looking for 22-year-old person of interest, Evander Thompson, who is currently being referred to as a acquaintance of Talton.
The homicide occurred in a different location approximately 24-48 hours prior to Talton’s body being found, according to a press release from The Ferguson Police Department. In a television news interview with KMOV, Talton’s mother, Tirria Blanks says her daughter was lured into a home, physically beat and shot. On a Facebook post, Blanks revealed more, saying she didn’t condone the relationship her daughter had “with the man that killed her” and that she had placed “several restraining orders” on him. Police have not yet released the cause of Talton’s death.
“We can be the best parents in the world, but our children will do what they want to do, when they want to do it… Especially in the times we’re living in today,” Blanks wrote on Facebook.
Blanks could not be immediately reached by The St. Louis American for questions.
The Ferguson Detective Bureau is currently commanding the investigation and canvassing the area to search for additional witnesses and information.
A candlelight vigil for Talton will be on Nov.12 at 5:30pm at the Ted Jones Bike trail.
Talton’s funeral will be held at 12 noon on Monday, November 14 at William C. Harris Funeral Home, 9825 Halls Ferry Rd, St Louis Missouri 63136 and the burial immediately following at Lake Charles Cemetery, 7775 St. Charles Rock Rd 63114. A visitation will take place from 10am-12pm.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help with burial expenses. Visit https://www.gofundme.com/p3-funeralrepass-for-maleaha-talton to donate.
Anyone with information about the Talton’s death or Evander Thompson’s whereabouts can call Detective Erin O’Brien at 314-522-3100 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.
