Suspect Captured After St. Louis Mother And 9-Year-Old Daughter Were Shot In Burning Walnut Park West Home

Arrest follows weeks-long investigation into December shooting and fire on Floy Avenue

A man sought in connection with the killing of a St. Louis mother and her 9-year-old daughter has been taken into custody after investigators tracked him to southeast Missouri, authorities said Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

The case began shortly after midnight on December 21, 2025, when first responders were called to a house fire in the 5700 block of Floy Avenue in Walnut Park West. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, a woman and a child were found inside the home with gunshot wounds. Both were transported to a hospital in critical condition.

The child, identified by police as Paige Buckner, died on December 21, 2025. The woman, identified as 45-year-old Latasha Brown, died the next day, December 22, 2025. Investigators have said evidence indicates the victims were shot and the fire was started afterward, prompting a homicide investigation that also involved arson expertise.

How investigators located the suspect

Law enforcement in Butler County and the city of Poplar Bluff became involved after St. Louis homicide detectives notified them on December 23, 2025 that Michael McNair was a person of interest and was believed to have ties to the area. Police in Poplar Bluff said the victims’ vehicle, equipped with a lienholder-installed tracking device, was detected locally and later found at an abandoned home, though McNair was not located at that time.

Authorities said additional searches were conducted on January 8, 2026, involving multiple agencies, including the Missouri Highway Patrol and a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force. The search effort continued until new information led officers to a residence on Highway B, where McNair was arrested without incident on January 27.

What is known, and what remains unclear

Officials said McNair is expected to be transported to St. Louis for questioning as the homicide investigation continues. Public statements released so far have not detailed a motive, a relationship between the suspect and victims, or whether prosecutors have filed charges in court.

Police have continued to seek information from the public as detectives work to establish a comprehensive timeline and determine the circumstances leading to the shootings and subsequent fire.

• Incident location: 5700 block of Floy Avenue, Walnut Park West
• Date of initial emergency response: December 21, 2025
• Victims identified: Latasha Brown, 45; Paige Buckner, 9
• Arrest reported: January 27, 2026, in the Poplar Bluff area

Authorities have characterized the investigation as ongoing and have indicated additional details will be released as the case moves forward.