James Barton Horn Fatally Shot by Major Case Squad

Police say a Rural Missouri Major Case Squad team fatally shot James Barton Horn, who was accused of holding his girlfriend captive for four months and then killing her and her teenage son after she escaped.

Clinton, MO, police said Horn was found in an abandoned home in the Kearn Memorial Conservation Area located off of Hope Dale Road about 11:15 a.m Saturday morning. The conservation area is very large and covers both Pettis and Johnson County, MO. The house’s locations was about a half mile from the Pettis County line in Johnson County.

Lt. Sonny Lynch with the Clinton Police Department said, based on some leads that came in Friday night, a search team for the Rural Missouri Major Case Squad entered the home and found Horn in a closet.

He was armed, refused to surrender and threatened the search team with his weapon. They responded by shooting him. He died on scene.

Authorities believed Horn was armed and dangerous and had previously said they thought a friend or family member was helping him stay hidden.

Horn was accused of holding Sandra Sutton captive for four months, including forcing her to live in a wooden box and sexually assaulting her. Sandra Sutton, who had declined police protection, was living with her brother and sister-in-law in Clinton. Her son was a junior at Clinton High School, and his sister said he stayed with his mother in an effort to protect her.

The Sutton family was notified of Horn’s death.

The Kearn Memorial Conservation Area is owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation. It’s a fairly large public land that people use for outdoor recreation like hunting, fishing and hiking.

James Barton Horn Fatally Shot by Major Case Squad