A New Bloomfield couple was found dead in their home on Christmas Eve, and authorities were looking for a relative of one of the victims as a person of interest.
Family members found Benjamin Bonnie, 28, and Sarah Bonnie, 25, dead at 1 p.m. Sunday in their rural home west of New Bloomfield, according to a news release from the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department.
The couple’s 4-year-old daughter was found at the home at the time. She was not injured.
“She is fine,” said Sgt. Jason Clark, a public information official with the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad. “She is with family members.”
The family members who found the bodies told Callaway County sheriff’s officials they became concerned that the couple didn’t show up for a planned Christmas gathering.
Clark refused to release any information that detailed how the couple was killed.
The Boone County/Callaway County Medical Examiner planned an autopsy this morning in Columbia to determine the cause of death, Clark said. Sgt. Clay Chism, who was at the medical examiner’s office this morning, said would not release any information about the couple’s injuries.
Clark said authorities had identified two people of interest in the case. One is Darrin Carroll, 21, a Holts Summit man who contacted the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad soon after the couple had been reported dead.
Carroll spoke with police officials and was never in custody, but remains a person of interest, Clark said.
“We have spoken with him, he is being cooperative with police,” Clark said. “And other than that, I am not at liberty to discuss the nature between Mr. Carroll and this investigation.”
Officials were searching today for another person of interest who also might have information on the double homicide. Brian Dorsey, 34, is a relative of Sarah Bonnie who lives in Jefferson City. As of this morning, police officials had unable to contact him.
Clark said the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad – a combination of different law enforcement agencies, including the Columbia Police Department – is investigating the case.
“Certainly this is a big taxing thing on the Callaway County Sheriff’s office,” Clark said, “and they’ve asked for assistance from the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad because we have the ability to gather in several officers from many departments and take care of the details of the case.”
The Major Case Squad is asking anyone with information to call 592-2479 or 592-2476.
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