SEDALIA, Mo. — James Horn Jr.’s neighbors in Sedalia are removing the barricades from their doors and finally feeling safe enough to enjoy their block again, as the double murder suspect was shot and killed by authorities in rural Pettis County on Saturday.
Now his neighbors say that they’re talking and creating a plan to take back their broken neighborhood.
On Saturday, Horn’s family was in his former Sedalia home, moving his belongings out and cleaning. They say that they are planning to sell the home, and a buyer isn’t too far behind. Horn was shot and killed by authorities near Green Ridge, Missouri, after being discovered hiding in an empty home. He was suspected of murdering Sandra Sutton and her teenage son, Zachary, early Thursday morning.
He was previously facing a number of charges for allegedly holding Sandra Sutton captive in his Sedalia home.
Residents like Cecilia Tuck say that they have been living in fear since April, ever since he disappeared after Sandra Sutton escaped from captivity in his home.
“I couldn’t be here by myself,” said Tuck. “My husband wouldn’t leave me here by myself because (Horn) was still on the loose.”
That fear started to disappear on Saturday as the neighborhood received word that Horn was dead. The news was bittersweet for many in the neighborhood—while they were happy that Horn was no longer a threat, they say that they didn’t want the story to end this way.
“I think he should’ve paid for what he did. My opinion he took the easy way out and it’s not right because Sandra and her son they didn’t deserve it,” said Tuck.
Neighbors say that now they can finally take control of their neighborhood without fear. In fact, now there are plans for a Memorial Day BBQ.
“I can sleep now and everyone else can sleep,” said neighbor Brittney Shott.
