Prosecutors to seek death penalty for accused killer of Golden City girl

Barton County Prosecuting Attorney Steven Kaderly will seek the death penalty for Bobby Dale Bourne, 34, Lockwod, who is charged with the rape and murder of 12-year-old Adriaunna Horton of Golden City.

Kaderly filed the notice Jan. 23, starting a furious few days of action in the case. With the death penalty on the table due to the aggravating circumstances surrounding Adriaunna Horton's death, public defender Joseph Zuzul withdrew as Bourne's attorney and was replaced by Thomas Jaquinot, a public defender who specializes in death penalty cases.

Kaderly had asked for Bourne's arraignment, which originally had been scheduled for Monday, February 3, to be done via video. The defense asked for, and was granted, a continuance, moving the arraignment to 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, and received permission for Bourne to be transferred from his upstate prison cell to the Barton County Courthouse in Lamar. Bourne is serving a 15-year sentence, which was handed down by a Cedar County judge after Bourne admitted he had violated his probation by not attending a court-ordered Batterer Intervention Program.

Bourne is charged with first degree murder, statutory rape, and kidnapping in connection with the August 19 death of Miss Horton. A charge of forcible rape was dropped.

Kaderly is being assisted by the Missouri Attorney General's office.