Burglar alarm leads to video showing pair using drugs, stealing from dead resident, deputies allege

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (TCD) --

Two people were arrested after deputies said they tripped a burglary alarm and attempted to flee, leaving a dead body inside.

The Boone County Sheriff's Office said on March 7 at 4:13 p.m., deputies responded to a call on the 5700 block of East Mount Zion Church Road after a residential burglary alarm was tripped.

The sheriff's office said deputies called the residence on their way to the home two times, with a man picking up the second call.

The man on the line, identified as Jamie Chick, said he thought there was something wrong with the resident and believed the man was dead.

Deputies arrived and found the body of a man in "a condition that would indicate his death had likely occurred one or more hours prior." Deputies also found Chick, 36, and Blake Williford, 30, at the home.

Deputies obtained a hard drive from the owner's surveillance cameras.

According to the sheriff's office, video showed Chick and Williford allegedly ingesting narcotics and alcohol earlier that morning.

Deputies said Chick and Williford were "observed pilfering through the deceased resident’s pockets and the residence after waking up to discover the resident was deceased."

Deputies alleged neither person "made any visible effort to provide medical assistance to the resident" and they attempted to "flee the residence without contacting law enforcement," which led to them tripping the burglary alarm.

Deputies arrested Chick and Williford March 13 and charged them with abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

According to WDAF-TV, they were booked at Boone County Adult Detention Center and have since bonded out of custody.

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