Michael McNair, 40, from Missouri, faces charges of two counts each of first-degree murder and armed criminal action, plus one count each of unlawful firearm possession and first-degree arson. He’s accused of shooting LaTasha Brown, 45, and her daughter Paige Buckner, 9, in their St. Louis home on Floy Avenue in late December 2025, disabling smoke alarms (with his fingerprints found on them), setting the house on fire, and fleeing in Brown’s SUV. Both victims died from their injuries—Paige on Dec. 22 and LaTasha on Dec. 23—after firefighters pulled them from the burning residence.
Key Evidence
- Crime Scene: Disabled smoke alarms bore McNair’s fingerprints; he and Brown were dating and had argued the night before.
- Phone and Vehicle Tracking: Both phones pinged in Brown’s SUV leaving the scene; Brown’s phone stopped a mile away, while McNair’s continued south to Poplar Bluff (150 miles away). The SUV was later found with blood inside.
- Post-Arrest Admission: After capture and Miranda rights, McNair admitted to the relationship and argument.
Manhunt and Arrest
Charges filed Dec. 26, 2025. McNair evaded capture initially:
- New Madrid County Deputy Lakesha Miller texted a warning on Dec. 27 (“U better tell your peeps they coming to their house”), charged with hindering prosecution (she claims it was to flush him out; now on paid leave).
- Failed raid on Jan. 8 in Poplar Bluff amid a snowstorm.
- Arrested Wednesday (likely Jan. 28, 2026) after tracking his movements across local addresses. He’s held without bond.
St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy called it a “heartbreaking case” of “senseless violence.” Victims’ family, via sister Lisa Thomas, mourned LaTasha’s warmth and Paige’s bright future, stolen too soon.
This draws from reports by Spectrum News, KFVS, KSDK, and U.S. Marshals—standard in high-profile cases blending domestic violence, arson, and flight. McNair’s confession strengthens the prosecution under Missouri law, where first-degree murder carries life without parole or death penalty eligibility.
