A Jasper County jury has convicted Aaron Malone of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, Aspen Lewis. Prosecutors say Malone killed the 24-year-old in November 2024, then reported her missing and claimed she was abducted. The trial lasted three days, with jurors reaching a verdict in about an hour.
Aaron Malone, 24, faces sentencing on June 9 after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, abandonment of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. The charges stem from the November 2024 killing of Aspen Lewis, also 24, in Barry County, Missouri. Malone reported Lewis missing on November 25, 2024, telling police he believed she had been abducted, according to court documents and prosecutors from the Missouri Attorney General's Office. Authorities noted inconsistencies in his statements during their investigation. Video surveillance captured Malone's truck arriving at a residence around 11:35 p.m. on November 24, followed by screams shortly afterward. The truck left at 1:35 a.m. and returned at 4:10 a.m., just before Malone called police. Investigators found a large blood stain behind the truck, blood on the vehicle, disturbed gravel in the driveway, and jewelry pieces on the ground. When questioned, Malone directed officers to Lewis's body off a rural roadway, covered with leaves and sticks, showing extensive head trauma. A burnt pink shirt was nearby. In a post-Miranda interview, Malone admitted to an altercation and disposing of the body. Prosecutors presented evidence at trial that Malone repeatedly assaulted Lewis in the face, strangled her, and shot her before leaving her body in the woods.