Dead Baby Found In Trunk During Miller County Drug Raid

Authorities say it was a tip about drug activity at a house in Miller County that led to the discovery of a dead infant.

When cops served a search warrant at a home in St. Elizabeth they found some pot in the house and meth in nearly every bedroom. They also found a non-operational methamphetamine lab under the kitchen sink.....and a dead baby girl in a plastic container in the trunk of a car.

Several people have been charged with drug-related crimes connected with the raid, however, no charges have been filed against anyone yet in connection to the death of the “very young infant.”

Charged with possession and/or distribution/manufacturing of a controlled substance in connection to the raid are:


Emily S. Usnick, (below) 33, Eldon



John P. Pawelczak (b.), 37, of St. Elizabeth




Candice M. Burns (b.), 32, of Decaturville




Belinda G. Voiles (b.), 49, of St. Elizabeth



Victoria F. Stark (b.), 48, of St. Elizabeth


They are each being held in the Miller County jail on $500,000 bond and are due back in court on February 11th.

The owner of the house, Daniel Tellman Sr., has been charged with keeping or maintaining a public nuisance and distribution or manufacturing a controlled substance.

He has been released from the Miller County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on February 18th.


UPDATE (05-06-09):

There have still been no charges filed in the connection to the case of a dead infant that was found in the trunk of a car during a drug raid last February.

Working on a tip about drug activity at a house in Miller County cops served a search warrant at a home in St. Elizabeth where they recovered some pot --and meth in nearly every bedroom.

They also found a non-operational methamphetamine lab under the kitchen sink.....and a dead baby girl in a plastic container in the trunk of a car.

Three months later, Miller County Prosecutor Matt Howard says his office "is still waiting on investigative reports from the sheriff's office." Charged with possession and/or distribution/manufacturing of a controlled substance in connection to the raid are:

Emily S. Usnick, 33, (a.) of Eldon
John P. Pawelczak, 37, (a.) of St. Elizabeth
Candice M. Burns, 32, (a.) of Decaturville
Belinda G. Voiles, 49, (a.) of St. Elizabeth
Victoria F. Stark, 48, (a.) of St. Elizabeth


*** house image Lake Sun Leader

UPDATE Wednesday, February 8, 2012:

Murder Charges Filed In Case Of Dead Baby Found In Trunk During Drug Raid:

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Emily Usnick is facing charges related to the death of her newborn

Murder charges have been filed against a thirty six year-old woman from Mexico, Missouri nearly three years after authorities found the body of an infant in a car trunk during a drug raid in Miller County.

Emily Suzanne Usnick has been charged with second degree murder and abandonment of a corpse for the death of her baby girl.

Court records allege that Usnick endangered the welfare of the baby by "giving birth to the child unattended and failing to secure assistance and medical attention," ultimately leading to the infants death. Usnick is accused of putting the little girl's body in a plastic bag, then placing the bag in a plastic container in the trunk of the vehicle where deputies discovered her.


In a news release Howard said his office has been investigating the case at length and monitoring Missouri case law which he believes has now clarified the circumstances in which a felony murder charge can be successfully prosecuted.

Back in February of 2009 authorities raided a house in St. Elizabeth where they found some marijuana and meth in nearly every bedroom of the home. A non operational meth lab was found under the kitchen sink.

Four other people were arrested and charged with various drug charges related to the the drug raid.

Usnick was scheduled to stand trial in May on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a controlled substance and manufacturing a controlled substance. However, those charges have now been combined with the charges of second degree murder and abandonment of a corpse.

Usnick is being held in the Miller County jail on $300,000 bond.