MOLESTER CONFESSES TO 1994 KILLING, COPS SA;Y

apbnews.com/Richard Zitrin

Charles Daugherty, a 29-year-old convicted child molester, was arrested after confessing tokilling 11-year-old LaShonna Bates in 1994. He claimed to have stumbled across the body of LaShonnawhile chasing a runaway dog. He now has admitted to the killing more than six years later. Herdecomposed body was found two months after the fourth grader disappeared in February 1994 afterbeing last seen at a school bus stop outside of a convenience store. At the time, Daugherty was onprobation for a 1991 child molestation conviction. Based on the suspect's criminal history, policeMajor Richard Crenshaw said he believes the girl was sexually assaulted. DNA tests will beperformed to see if that was the case. Daugherty is being held without bond in the Marion CountyLockup on a preliminary charge of murder.

(Indianapolis)