A Bucyrus couple is charged with murder of their son and his neglect, along with 12 other felony allegations in a Texas County grand jury indictment handed up and released on Thursday, May 7.
Chaun C. Asbury, 42, and Tamla Asbury, 45, were arrested by authorities in March after a tip led them to Lundy Drive west of Houston.
Authorities arrested the Asburys after they attempted to flee their Bucyrus property, where deputies found children — including one malnourished juvenile bound to a bed inside a shed without utilities — along with evidence of severe neglect and abuse, authorities said.
During the search of the property acquired by the Asburys in September 2021, investigators also uncovered skeletal remains believed to be a previously reported missing child, Ceasar Asbury, 18, who was last seen on Sept. 21, 2025.
He had earlier been listed on the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s “Missing Persons Clearinghouse.” The St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s office used dental records to make an identification, said Texas County Sheriff Scott Lindsey.
The discovery led to a full-scale investigation by the Texas County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from other agencies.
The Asburys are held without bond in the Texas County Jail. He is to appear at 1 p.m. May 12 for an arraignment. Her appearance is at 9 a.m. May 12. Both are at the Texas County Justice Center.
According to the indictment, Ceasar Asbury died on or about May 25, 2022, as a result of child abuse or neglect.
“This is absolutely the worst case of child abuse and neglect that I have encountered in my 28 plus years of law enforcement,” said Lindsey earlier.
Here are the other charges they face, counts three through 14.
- First-degree domestic assault causing serious injury related to the boy’s death, a class A felony.
- Abandonment of the boy’s corpse, a class E felony, May 25, 2022 – March 10, 2026.
- Abuse or neglect of a child, causing serious emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact, a class B felony. Those charges stem from injuries sustained by a now 16-year-old child between Nov. 1, 2023 – Nov. 30, 2025. The child, according to the indictment, received serious physical injury.
- Abuse or neglect of the now 16-year-old child, causing serious emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact, a class B felony. The indictment alleges the abuse between Nov. 1, 2023 and Nov. 20, 2025 to the same child.
- First-degree domestic assault, causing serious physical injury causing serious injury to a now 16-year-old boy, Nov. 1, 2023 – Nov. 20, 2025. That is a class A felony.
- Abuse or neglect of a child, causing serious emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact, a class B felony, Nov. 1, 2023- Nov. 20, 2025. The indictment alleges a now 14-year-old child suffered emotional injury by not having nutrition, housing or emotional development and support.
- Abuse or neglect of a child, causing serious emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact, a class B felony. The alleged offense occurred between Nov. 1, 2023 – March 10, 2026 and involves a now 12-year-old child.
- Abuse or neglect of a child, causing serious emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact, a class B felony. The alleged offense occurred between Nov. 1, 2023 – March 10, 2026. The charge involves a now 14-year-old child.
- Abuse or neglect of a child, causing serious emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact, a class B felony. The alleged offense occurred between Nov. 1, 2023 – March 10, 2026. The charge involves the 12-year-old child by not providing proper nutrition, housing or emotional development and support.
- Abuse or neglect of a child, causing serious emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact, a class B felony, between Nov. 1, 2023-March 10, 2026. The indictment says am now 8-year-old child was not provided nutrition, housing or emotional development and support.
- First-degree domestic assault, causing serious physical injury between Nov. 1, 2023-March 10, 2026, by striking a now 6-year-old girl. It is a class A felony.
- Abuse or neglect of a child, causing serious emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact. It is alleged between Nov. 1, 2023 – March 10, 2026, the 6-year-old child received physical injury.
- Abuse or neglect of the child, causing emotional or physical injury with no sexual contact. It is alleged between Nov. 1, 2023-March 10, 2026. It is a class B felony.
