Teen Randolph County murder suspect pleads not guilty

HUNTSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 17-year-old pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the death of his on-again, off-again girlfriend Thursday.

Christopher Woods-Bloss is charged in the death of 16-year-old Kayla Huff, whose body was found this spring in a Randolph County conservation area. Woods-Bloss and Huff had been in a relationship multiple times, according to a probable cause statement.

Woods-Bloss was in a Randolph County courtroom Thursday for his first appearance since being charged with Huff's murder. He is also charged with armed criminal action and first-degree kidnapping.

Court documents allege Huff was taken to the area in the trunk of a car and beaten and shot to death.

Woods-Bloss was among the last people to be seen with Huff, and he allegedly told investigators that he was with Huff the day of her disappearance when her car broke down.

Court documents in cases against other defendants allege Woods-Bloss' co-defendants disabled Huff's car and covered up evidence to create the appearance that she had disappeared.

Four other people face charges in the case ranging from murder to evidence tampering.

Woods-Bloss is being held without bond. Judge Garreth Cooksey set an Oct. 19 bond hearing.