Sikeston woman found dead; boyfriend arrested

A lone Sikeston Department of Public Safety car sits in front of 867 Stanford on Friday afternoon where a body of a 28-year-old woman, identified as Daneille Keown, was found dead. Keown's boyfriend, who has not yet been identified, has been arrested. (David Jenkins photo)

SIKESTON -- One person is in custody after his girlfriend was found dead in a home in Sikeston on Friday.

At around 11 a.m. Friday, officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety received information about a possible dead body in the basement of 867 Stanford. Officers responded to the home and made contact with the occupants and obtained permission to search the home.

During the search, officers found the body of 28-year-old Danielle Keown in the basement. Due to the condition of the scene, officers immediately suspected foul play and four residents were taken to DPS Headquarters for interviews and the SEMO Major Case Squad was activated.

Information gathered during the initial stages of the investigation indicates that a domestic dispute occurred at the residence last night between two of the occupants. A subsequent struggle took place in the basement of the home, leading to Keown being stabbed and killed. It is believed the body was left in the basement until it was discovered by officers.

DPS then arrested Keown's 23-year-old boyfriend whose name is being withheld pending the filing of formal charges through the New Madrid County Prosecutor's Office.