Hearing for Carthage mother charged with obstruction in son's murder case delayed until December

A preliminary examination for a Carthage woman charged with obstruction of an investigation and concealing or destroying evidence, originally scheduled for today in Miami County, Kansas District Court, has been postponed until December 6.

According to a motion for continuance filed September 20, a Carthage Police Department officer who was scheduled to testify will be unavailable for a month due to paternity leave.

Charges were filed against Heather Annette McJunkins, 46, for allegedly interfering with the investigation into the murder of her daughter-in-law Kenia Lopez, 24, whose body was found June 13 in an abandoned camper at 600 Main Street in Carthage.

McJunkins is free after posting a $25,000 surety bond, according to Miami County District Court records.

The preliminary examination for McJunkins' son, Gavino Macias, on a second-degree murder charge is scheduled for December 12.

Miami County authorities allege Macias murdered Lopez, then took her body to Carthage. A probable cause statement filed in Jasper County Circuit Court described the murder as "violent."