COLUMBIA, Mo. (TCN) — A 24-year-old woman charged with second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a college student who was found burned in a fire pit in 2023 has been declared unfit to stand trial.
On Jan. 10, 2023, the remains of 21-year-old University of Missouri student Samuel Clemons were found smoldering in a burn pit when police conducted a welfare check. Police had learned his whereabouts following an Uber ride he took the previous day.
At the residence, they located bloodstains leading from the home to a parked car, a bloody knife, and smashed cellphone in a sink. Emma Adams, 20 at the time, was identified as a suspect and arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with physical evidence, and abandonment of a corpse. She told officers she had stabbed the victim in self-defense because he was beating her.
At the time Clemons’ body was found, police initially could not identify him because of the condition of his remains, KMIZ reports. Clemons was a sophomore at the university and he had autism, KRCG reports.
An obituary for Clemons reads, “Sammy enjoyed drawing, collecting DC comics, playing video games, watching comedy and scary movies. He enjoyed opportunities to volunteer with Wild Thing Feral Feline Fix program and was an advocate for the conservation and study of bats and bees. Sammy had a unique ability to brighten anyone’s day with his beautiful smile. He had a gentle, kind, compassionate nature, and was extremely intelligent and witty. He touched many hearts, and will forever be remembered, loved, and missed. Sammy was empathetic and respectful of everyone’s right to their own individuality and encouraged others to become their most authentic selves.”
According to KMIZ, Adams has been committed to the Department of Mental Health since 2023, and two evaluations in 2025 declared her unfit to stand trial. Following an evaluation on May 27, she was still deemed unfit to stand trial and will remain committed. The Columbia Missourian reports that both the state and the defense did not object to that decision. According to KRCG, the state requested several extensions due to backlogs in the mental health system.
A hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 25, 2027.
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