Horror in St. Louis: Pregnant Missouri Mother Executed in Front of Her Four Young Daughters—Suspect Faces 17 Charges After Chilling April 23 Daylight Attack
ST. LOUIS, MO — A horrific act of violence has shaken the St. Louis community after authorities say a Missouri man, Vanier T. Jones, brutally murdered a pregnant mother in front of her children. The victim, 35-year-old Christina Lynn Rentchler, was fatally shot in the head on the afternoon of April 23, allegedly by Jones, who is now facing a litany of serious charges.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, the devastating incident unfolded in front of five children, including Rentchler’s four daughters, when Jones allegedly approached them and asked where their mother was. Seconds later, witnesses say he pulled out a gun and executed Rentchler in front of the children, shooting her multiple times, including in the back of the head.
When officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) arrived on the scene, they found Rentchler unresponsive. Emergency responders pronounced her and her unborn child dead on site. The medical examiner later determined that Rentchler had been in her second trimester.
Second Woman Shot, Plays Dead to Survive
Another woman was also shot by Jones but miraculously survived. According to police reports and the affidavit, she was conscious and breathing when first responders arrived. The woman—who remains unnamed—reportedly pretended to be dead after being shot by Jones, a move that may have saved her life.
She told investigators that Jones had been staying with her and became enraged before opening fire. After shooting her, he allegedly turned to Rentchler’s children and asked where their mother was—before committing the fatal shooting.
Jones’ Criminal History and Current Charges
Jones, who has an extensive criminal history, had multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2023 second-degree assault conviction. At the time of the homicide, he had also absconded from federal supervised release, according to the affidavit.
He is now being held without bond and faces a total of 17 charges, including:
- 2 counts of first-degree murder (for both Rentchler and her unborn child)
- 1 count of attempted murder
- 5 counts of endangering the welfare of a child
- 8 counts of armed criminal action
- 1 count of unlawful possession of a firearm
His next court appearance is scheduled for May 12, and he currently does not have legal representation on record.
Community Response and Support
The murder of Christina Rentchler and her unborn child has sparked an outpouring of grief and outrage in the community. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support her surviving daughters, who now face life without their mother.
“Christina was a dedicated, loving mother,” one organizer wrote on the fundraising page. “Her children witnessed unimaginable horror. We are rallying around them now to give them every resource and bit of comfort we can.”
Authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the incident, as the community demands justice for a mother whose life was taken in an act of unfathomable violence.