Suspect tells investigators he stabbed Springfield teen three to four times then held her until she died

A Springfield man charged with first degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of 19-year-old MacKenna Milhon told Greene County deputies he stabbed the teen after she slapped him, stabbed her three to four more times and then held her until she died.

Lonnie Leroy Williams, 32, was also charged with armed criminal action and Williams' girlfriend, Olivia Vega, 23, was charged with tampering with evidence, a felony.

Greene County deputies and Springfield Police Department officers discovered Milhon's body December 30 at 1628 E. Farm Road 88 in Springfield. She had been missing for 10 days.

Milhon was two days away from her 20th birthday. When she was born January 1, 2000, she was the first Springfield baby born during the new millennium.







The crime is described in the probable cause statement:

On December 22, 2019, Rachel Crook filed a missing persons report with the Springfield Police Department. She stated her daughter, MacKenna Milhon, had last contacted her on December 20, 2019, when she sent a text message around 01:00 hours saying she had been raped.

At about 02:14 hours, Crook had a four and a half minute conversation with Milhon where she said she was in Lampe, Missouri, or Blue Eye, Missouri, then the call was disconnected.

On December 30, 2019, Springfield Police contacted the Greene County Sheriff's Office in reference to a tip they received that Milhon's body was at two possible locations outside Springfield city limits, including 1628 E. Farm Road 88, Springfield, Missouri 65803.

Detectives from both agencies responded to the address and located the deceased body of Milhon.

On December 31, 2019, an autopsy was conducted on Milhon. It was determined Milhon had suffered several sharp force traumas around her neck, consistent with stab wounds caused by a sharp object.

During the follow up investigation, it was learned that Milhon was riding in a vehicle with her friend on December 19, 2019 before being dropped off at the Kum and Go station at Kansas Expressway and Norton Road.

Milhon was picked up by her friend, Lonnie "Leon" Williams and they drove around together. During an initial interview, Williams told Springfield Police detectives they stopped at one point to have consensual sex in an alleyway before he dropped Milhon off near the intersection of Atlantic Street and Main Street at about 01:00 hours on December 20, 2019.

Williams said he did not have any further contact with Milhon.

On January 1, 2020, a male identified as Gary "TJ" Taylor was contacted by Greene County Sheriff's Office detectives. Taylor said he was with Olivia Vega, Williams' girlfriend, at the residence she shares with Williams.

Taylor said he saw Williams come into the house with some bloody clothing and a knife. Taylor said he and Vega took the clothing and knife toa location where he burned the clothing and he said Vega discarded the knife.

On January 2, 2020, Vega was contacted and interviewed by Greene County Sheriff's Office Detectives. Vega made a reference to "the little girl," saying she didn't think Williams was capable of hurting "the little girl."

On January 2, 2020, Williams was interviewed again, and at first denied any involvement in Milhon's death.

Later in the interview, Williams stated he was driving north of State Highway H out of Springfield and pulled over at the intersection of Farm Road 88 and State Highway H to urinate.

He said he had vehicle trouble and eventually got his vehicle to start. Before getting back onto the highway, he said Milhon was upset and started to hit him while inside the vehicle.









Williams said Milhon was upset because he lied to her about having drugs for her. He stated he grabbed a knife located on the passenger floorboard and stabbed Milton once in the neck area.

Williams said they both exited the vehicle and he approached her to see if she was o. k. Milhon slapped Williams across the face and continued to strike him, so he said he stabbed her in the neck about three to four more times.

Williams told detectives Milhon stumbled between two buildings before falling to the ground, where he held her until she died.

Williams gathered the knife and his bloody clothing and returned home. He said he told Vega what happened and asked her to dispose of the bloody clothing.

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott issued the following statement:

“We continue to extend our thoughts and prayers to the Milhon family. 

This has been a long and trying couple of weeks for the family and we hope this begins the healing process for them.

I would also like to thank the Prosecutor's Office for their assistance with this investigation as well as the collaboration between Greene County Detectives and the Springfield Police Department.”