An Oran, Missouri, man faces felony charges of child molestation and endangering the welfare of a child.
From Thanksgiving through Jan. 15, Jefferson D. Brady, 28, was staying with a family in Bollinger County, normally sleeping on their couch, according to a probable-cause report from Bollinger County sheriff’s detective Della Moore.
On multiple occasions, Brady slept in the room of an 8-year-old girl, always giving explanations such as he feel asleep reading a bedtime story, Moore reported. The 8-year-old victim said Brady touched her genitals several times, according to the report.
Bollinger County deputies tried to contact Brady on Jan. 15, but he had left the home, Moore wrote.
Moore later learned Brady was incarcerated in Reynolds County on Jan. 21. On Jan. 24, someone from New Trace Creek Church near Marquand, Missouri, reported someone had broken into a church outbuilding and had left a large amount of blood and a suicide note.
Reynolds County sheriff’s deputies said Brady remains in their custody and has cuts to his wrists.
Brady was charged Thursday, and his bond was set at $50,000.
Pertinent address:
806 Route W, Oran, Mo.
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.