DEPUTIES FIND BODIES FOLLOWING FIRE REPORT

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott County man was in jail late Friday in connection with his girlfriend's death after a deputy discovered her body inside the couple's rural Scott County home about two miles east of Benton.

Sgt. Jerry Bledsoe of the Scott County Sheriff's Department said Lizabeth Dunn, 41, had been stabbed. Her boyfriend, Larry F. Baker, 40, is suspected of killing her and then trying to set a fire to cover up the crime.

Bledsoe said he arrested Baker two weeks ago after a domestic incident that resulted in Baker being charged with assault.

"She went to the hospital because she was beaten up pretty bad," Bledsoe said, referring to Dunn.

Baker was out on bond on the assault charge when he was arrested Friday on Interstate 55 near Sikeston, Mo., shortly after 8 p.m. He was caught after an area-wide manhunt that included the posting of Cape Girardeau officers at the foot of the Mississippi River Bridge.

Dunn's neighbor called the sheriff's department earlier Friday and told deputies Dunn's boyfriend came to her residence in a panic, saying that his home was on fire and he didn't know where "Liddy" was.

Bledsoe said he checked with the New Hamburg-Benton-Commerce Fire District, which had received no emergency calls reporting a fire at the mobile home on County Road 331.

He decided to go to the residence to check on Dunn's well-being. He found the rear door open and yelled for Dunn through the door, but there was no response.

After another deputy arrived, the two entered and found Dunn's body sitting on the kitchen floor, propped up against a cabinet. She had suffered a deep cut to her upper torso, Bledsoe said.

"There was evidence that there was a good ruckus in the kitchen," he said.

Investigators found that someone had poured a flammable liquid on the linoleum floor up to the edge of the carpet near the front doorway. Part of the carpet and a wall was burned, but the flames were out.

Officers also discovered a methamphetamine lab inside the home, which led to a warrant for arresting Baker.

Baker is charged with attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of chemicals, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. There may be more charges pending the investigation of Dunn's death, Bledsoe said.

Based on the drug charges, Baker is being held in the Scott County Jail on $200,000 bond.