BALLWIN, Mo. — A man was charged with first-degree murder Sunday in what Ballwin police are calling a "domestic violence incident."
In addition to first-degree murder, St. Louis County prosecutors charged Zachary Childs, 45, with one count each of armed criminal action and first-degree burglary.
Ballwin police spokesman Officer Mark Reckert said the woman was shot in the head at about 1 a.m. Sunday in the 100 block of Spring Leigh Court, just north of the intersection of Manchester and Baxter roads.
Ballwin police officers treated the woman for her injuries until firefighters and paramedics from Metro West Fire Protection District arrived at the scene. The woman was taken to a St. Louis area hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Reckert said.
For more than 10 hours, authorities were looking for Childs. He was taken into custody at about 11:30 a.m., Reckert said, after he was found wandering in a creek near the home.
On Monday, charging documents said the defendant is the ex-husband of the victim and she previously had an order of protection against the defendant.
According to Missouri's Casenet, the order of protection was filed on Feb. 7 and the two were in the middle of a divorce, working on child custody.
The order of protection ordered for him to stay away. It required them to not communicate unless it was through the court's communication program.
"He shall not commit or threaten to commit domestic violence, stalking, molesting, or sexual assault," it read.
A full order of protection should be valid for at least 180 days.
According to court documents, the victim was living at the home with their child, whom she had full custody of and the victim's current boyfriend was also present.
"The defendant forced his way into the residence by throwing a bag of concrete through a sliding glass door. Glass from the door would later be recovered from his pockets and his shoes," a probable cause statement said.
It also shared that his unique shoe tread matched bloody footprints observed at the site.
The documents said the defendant had blood on his clothing and a gun. The round from the gun matched a spent shelling chasing recovered from the scene.
It also said, he confessed to the shooting, which was video recorded.
The charging documents shared, their daughter observed the defendant standing over the body of the victim.
Childs is being held at the St. Louis County Justice Center without bond.
"We’ve just seen too many of these situations and obviously one is too many. We’re going to do everything we can to hold this defendant accountable," St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said.
The last homicide in Ballwin was in April 2013 when an 81-year-old woman shot and killed her son inside their home in the 700 block of Clayworth Drive.
Johanna Walker told police her son, Brian Walker, 41, attacked her with a knife before she shot him twice in his upper torso.
Both people were taken to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis for treatment of their injuries. The younger Walker was pronounced dead a short time later.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
Safe Connections is a St. Louis organization working to combat relationship violence and sexual assault. The 24-hour crisis help line is 314-531-2003.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV or the Apple TV App Store.