ST. CLAIR COUNTY, MO (KCTV) -
The husband of a teen who was found dead in a Grandview motel is accused of killing a man in a dispute after the girl's death, according to court documents.
Justin S. Cannon, 21, was charged Monday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action, according to online court records from St. Clair County. This was the same day as his wife's funeral.
Detectives say Justin Cannon believed his wife, Amber Dawn Cannon, slept with Michael Griggs before her death last week, according to court documents.
Both Amber Cannon's parents adamantly maintained Tuesday that their daughter did not have a sexual relationship with Griggs.
Justin Cannon of Peculiar, MO, is accused of killing the 24-year-old Raymore man by hitting him in the head with a rock during a camping trip at Truman Lake, according to court records.
Justin Cannon is the husband of 16-year-old Amber Dawn Cannon who was found dead in a Grandview motel last week. Justin Cannon was serving for the U.S. military in Europe at the time.
Friends of the two said Griggs and Justin Cannon had fought over Griggs having sex with Justin Cannon's wife while Justin Cannon was away in the military, according court records.
"Justin's wife had recently passed away and Justin was in the area for the funeral," according to court documents.
Cannon's wife, Amber, was found dead last week in a Grandview motel. The Jackson County Medical Examiner has not officially determined her cause of death, but her parents told KCTV5 last week that they believe Amber Cannon overdosed on a drug known as "Blueberry."
Amber Cannon's father, Shannon Taylor, told KCTV5.com that his daughter and Griggs were not lovers. He said he understands that Cannon was upset with Griggs because some of Amber Cannon's friends believed Griggs had information vital to the investigation of her death.
Taylor said his son-in-law is a respectful, nice man.
Amber and Justin Cannon had married in March when Amber turned 16 years old.
The family was upset that those with Amber Cannon didn't call for help when they said she overdosed. Amber Cannon had gone to the motel to hang out with friends and use the pool.
Cannon's body wasn't found until several hours after she died when a bounty hunter came looking for someone in the room.
Amber Cannon's husband flew back from Italy to help plan her funeral.
Griggs' mother, Lori Quick, says her son suffered five medical seizures during the camping trip and no one called for help. She said she and her son had fought over his relationship with Amber Cannon.
"His body is so decomposed that I can't even give him a hug," Quick told KCTV5's Betsy Webster. "Eventually, Michael and I would have made up, but I won't get the chance."
According to court documents, Griggs was camping in the area of Krebs trailer park boat launch with six friends and acquaintances, including Justin Cannon.
Justin Cannon told police that he last saw Griggs about 5:30 a.m. Sunday when he went to relieve himself.
Their friends told authorities that the two had fought Saturday night over Amber Cannon.
Griggs' body was found in Truman Lake near the shoreline about 200 yards from the camp area. His body had a gash or cut on the back of his head, according to court records.
In an affidavit, a St. Clair County Sheriff's Office detective said Justin Cannon admitted to being mad over Griggs having sex with his wife. Cannon confessed to hitting Griggs with a rock in the back of the head when Griggs got up to use the bathroom, according to court documents.
"When Griggs died, Cannon stated he picked up his body and carried it to the lake to hide it," according to court documents. "Approximately one and half hours later, he woke the others up and told them that Griggs was missing."
The Sheriff's Office sought a charge of second-degree murder but the prosecutor decided to charge Cannon with first-degree murder.
Bond is set at $100,000 for Justin Cannon, according to authorities.
Amber Cannon called Griggs when she was at the motel. But Taylor said Griggs was not at the motel because he could not get a ride to the motel.
A bounty hunter found Amber Cannon's lifeless body and a male friend named "Aaron" in the motel. Amber Cannon apparently had been dead for some time.
"Everybody is mad at Aaron," Taylor said. This includes Justin Cannon, Taylor said.
"Aaron didn't call the right people," he said.
Taylor said the Medical Examiner's Office has told him it will take several weeks to complete toxicology results and determine how his daughter died.
Taylor said he and his former wife agreed to let their daughter marry Justin Cannon because they had been together for a couple of years and thought they were ready for marriage. In hindsight, Taylor says he wishes he hadn't agreed to the marriage, particularly with Justin Cannon serving overseas.
"All of this falls on my shoulder. I thought she was ready," he said. "(Justin) was a nice guy. We never had a problem with the guy. We liked Justin. That's why we allowed her to marry him."
Taylor said Justin Cannon had helped in the search for Griggs and arrived late to her visitation on Sunday afternoon because of that. Amber Cannon's funeral was held Monday.
To read previous coverage of this story, click here.
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