On December 21, 2023, officers in St. Louis responded to a home in the 5800 block of Kennerly Avenue in the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood and found 34-year-old Candace Horskins of St. Charles unresponsive from a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency personnel pronounced her dead at the scene and homicide detectives opened an investigation.

Investigators say Horskins and a male acquaintance entered the residence without permission while the homeowner was away. The homeowner returned, encountered the pair, and a gunshot was then heard from the second floor. The male reportedly came down the stairs, told the homeowner Horskins was dead, and fled. Doorbell camera footage was reported to corroborate that timeline.

Police identified 46-year-old Mario Lee, known to the homeowner, as the suspect. In early January 2024 the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Lee with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and second-degree burglary; he was being held without bond. If anyone has information about that night or knew Candace Horskins, please share what you know.