A Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal knifing of Louis Dickey, whose body was found in her Independence residence on Tuesday, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Cory L. King, dob: 3/27/1990, faces Murder in the First Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges.*

According to court records, Independence police responded to the home of the victim in the 10400 block of E. 27th Street in Independence. The victim had been discovered by concerned neighbors who noticed that the victim’s vehicle was missing from her driveway. Later that day, Independence police located the stolen vehicle at a convenience store on Truman Road. Video surveillance showed the defendant attempted to use a debit card at an ATM machine outside the business; later police learned that debit card belonged to the victim and the suspect told police he had tried unsuccessfully to use it. The suspect was also seen on surveillance video making several phone calls. Police checked the phone account and found the victim’s phone had been used about the same time as the defendant was observed using a phone at the convenience store. Also, surveillance footage from a drug store showed the victim and defendant together the day before her murder. Independence and Kansas City police located the suspect at a motel in Kansas City. He admitted he killed the victim in her residence as he was under the influence of drugs. They had argued after she refused to let him sleep on her couch. He used a box cutter from her residence, he told police.

Prosecutors have requested a bond of $500,000 cash.

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.