ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — A man has been convicted in the death of 21-year-old Ariel Starcher, whose body was discovered in a duffel bag along a rural northwest Missouri road almost two weeks after she was killed at a Kansas City hotel. Marcus Brooks was found guilty of first-degree murder in the case, as reported by The St. Joseph News-Press.

The bag containing Starcher’s body was found by a Missouri Transportation Department worker in February 2020, around 45 miles north of Kansas City. It was determined that she died of suffocation and had also suffered a broken neck. Testimony against Brooks came from Taylor Stoughton, who had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder as his accomplice. Both were arrested a year after the killing.

According to Starcher’s grandfather, she knew Brooks and would occasionally call him for rides. He expressed concerns about his granddaughter’s life and her efforts to turn things around, stating, “She was trying to change her life, get her life straightened out. But it’s just one step forward and four steps back.”

The defense argued that Stoughton was responsible for suffocating and binding Starcher, and Brooks claimed he was in the shower at the time of the incident, only helping to dispose of the body. However, Brooks’ DNA was found underneath Starcher’s fingernails, with one nail torn, suggesting she had been killed while trying to fight off her attacker. Stoughton’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20, and Brooks’ for Dec. 21.

The case highlights the tragic loss of a young woman and the intricate complexities involved in resolving such cases. The guilty verdict brings a sense of closure to Starcher’s family, who have been grappling with their loss since her body was found. The impact of this conviction on the lives of those involved will undoubtedly be long-lasting.