New details emerge in Texas County abuse, death investigation

New charges have been filed against a Bucyrus couple after skeletal remains recovered in March were scientifically confirmed as those of Ceasar Asbury, according to a new release from the Texas County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Scott K. Lindsey said the remains were confirmed through dental comparison performed by the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office. The remains had been recovered March 10 during the execution of a search warrant at a residence on Lundy Road in the Bucyrus area.

According to the sheriff’s office, the original search warrant was served as part of a missing person investigation. As law enforcement approached the residence, Chaun Asbury, 42, allegedly attempted to flee and was apprehended. Tamla Asbury, 45, exited the residence and was detained.

Three juveniles were found at the residence and taken into protective custody. Deputies reported that one juvenile was found locked in a shed with no utilities, bound to a bed and severely malnourished. The juvenile required urgent medical care.

During the search, deputies also reported finding unsanitary living conditions, including a residence without utilities or sewer. Investigators said evidence of physical abuse and unnecessary physical restraint of children was also found.

As the search continued, deputies located skeletal remains in a shallow grave on the property. At the time, authorities said the findings were consistent with a missing person, Ceasar Asbury, who had previously been reported by the suspects as a possible runaway.

In the latest update, the sheriff’s office said additional information and evidence was presented to Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens. Based on that information, Stevens filed additional charges against both Chaun and Tamla Asbury.

Chaun Asbury is now charged with second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, three counts of first-degree domestic assault, abandonment of a corpse and eight counts of abuse or neglect of a child.

Tamla Asbury faces the same charges: second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, three counts of first-degree domestic assault, abandonment of a corpse and eight counts of abuse or neglect of a child.

The Asburys had initially been charged with five counts of child abuse each following the March investigation. They were originally held in the Texas County Jail on $100,000 cash-only bonds. Following the new charges, both are being held in the Texas County Jail on no-bond warrants, according to the sheriff’s office.

In the original release, Lindsey described the case as the worst case of child abuse and neglect he had encountered in more than 28 years in law enforcement.

“This is absolutely the worst case of child abuse and neglect that I have encountered in my 28 plus years of law enforcement,” Lindsey stated in the original release. “The life that was lost and the other lives of the children that were affected by this situation is a horrible tragedy.”

The March search warrant was served by the Texas County Special Response Team, a tactical team maintained by the sheriff’s office consisting of deputies and officers from the Houston and Licking police departments. The Houston Police Department provided additional support with supplies and equipment. The Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division assisted with placement for the juveniles.

The investigation remains ongoing.

All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.