Three men are now facing criminal charges related to the death of 18-year-old Kaniah Jennings, whose body was discovered in rural Pemiscot County on November 14. Jennings was reported missing on November 3, and her disappearance has led to a complex investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) has been leading the investigation, which initially involved separate charges for the three men before they were formally charged in connection with Jennings’ murder. According to court documents, the men have various roles in the case, and authorities have now brought serious charges against them, according to the WPSD Local.
Kennan Peoples, 34, of Hayti, has been charged with:
- First-degree murder
- First-degree kidnapping
- First-degree rape
- Tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution
Blake Patrick, 18, of East Prairie, faces charges of:
- Accessory to first-degree murder
- First-degree kidnapping
- First-degree rape
- First-degree tampering with a motor vehicle
- Two counts of stealing a firearm
- Stealing more than $750
Donald Peoples Jr., 38, also of Hayti, is charged with:
- Accessory to first-degree murder
- Tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution
Pemiscot County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Horton stated that more information would be released as appropriate, as per KFVS12.
The investigation began after Kaniah Jennings was reported missing. Blake Patrick, who was arrested the day after Jennings went missing in Arkansas, was initially charged only with tampering with a stolen vehicle and felony stealing. Court records indicate Patrick stole a truck belonging to Kennan Peoples on November 4. Patrick also has a history of domestic abuse and was under an active order of protection at the time of the incident.
On November 13, Patrick appeared in court via video conference, where he waived his formal arraignment and entered a not guilty plea. A bond hearing for him was scheduled for November 20.
Following Patrick’s arrest, two brothers, Donald and Kennan Peoples, were also arrested. Donald Peoples is accused of deleting text messages related to the case, which mentioned his brother and another individual being with a woman the same day Jennings went missing. The text messages also indicate that Jennings was last seen at Kennan Peoples’ home.
Kennan Peoples is accused of damaging and burning a DVR security system in an attempt to destroy evidence related to a stolen vehicle. Investigators later found the burned DVR on a pile at his property.
Both brothers were initially charged with tampering with physical evidence. They appeared in court on November 13, with Donald Peoples waiving his formal arraignment and entering a not guilty plea. A bond hearing for him is set for November 20, and a counsel status hearing for Kennan Peoples is scheduled for November 17.
Kennan Peoples and Blake Patrick are being held in the Pemiscot County Jail without bond, while Donald Peoples is in the Dunklin County Jail without bond.
The MSHP, with assistance from the Arkansas State Police and local law enforcement agencies, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Jennings’ death.