Detectives say they found damning evidence on the defendant's own cellphone: video footage showing Nicholas Anthony Ayres allegedly attacking 37-year-old Destiny Dunn two days before her death, a recording in which he appears to boast about calling authorities because "I'm not going down for manslaughter."
Background
The Columbia Police Department began its investigation on Aug. 12 when officers responded to a cardiac arrest call at a residence on Range Line Street in the Missouri city located roughly 125 miles west of St. Louis.
Upon arrival, police discovered Dunn deceased inside the By The Way Motel. Officers immediately deemed the death suspicious and later confirmed it was a homicide.
Ayres had called 911 himself that day, according to a probable cause statement obtained by NBC-affiliated KOMU. During the emergency call, Ayres told dispatchers he and Dunn got into an altercation while in the shower. He claimed the woman became upset after he said he was going to leave her, which caused her to fall down.
Ayres allegedly stated during the 911 call that Dunn looked like she had been beaten up — but insisted he did not strike her, according to charging documents.
Inside the motel room, officers observed Dunn had bruises covering her body. Ayres was taken into custody at the scene.
Neighbors in an adjacent room told investigators they heard sounds consistent with physical violence approximately four hours before police arrived, according to the probable cause statement.
During a custodial interview, Ayres admitted to physical altercations with Dunn but maintained they were accidental, police said.
The Investigation
After obtaining a search warrant for the motel room, detectives recovered Ayres' cellphone. On the device, investigators found a video dated two days before the killing showing Ayres attacking Dunn repeatedly — footage he apparently recorded himself, according to charging documents.
Investigators also discovered a photograph of Dunn lying in the bathtub at the motel, along with accompanying video footage showing her barely moving in the tub. Both were timestamped roughly three hours before police arrived at the scene.
In another recording, Ayres paces the motel room while Dunn groans in the background. At one point, he announces he is calling 911.
"Hey honey, I'm really calling 911. I have to because I'm not going down for manslaughter," Ayres allegedly tells the dying woman in that video, according to the probable cause statement.
Ayres, 35, has been charged with one count each of second-degree felony murder and first-degree domestic assault. He is being held without bond at the Boone County Jail.
Key Takeaways
- Nicholas Anthony Ayres, 35, was arrested for the death of Destiny Dunn, 37, at the By The Way Motel in Columbia, Missouri
- Police found video evidence on Ayres' own cellphone showing him allegedly abusing Dunn two days before her death
- In a recording recovered by investigators, Ayres appears to say "I'm not going down for manslaughter" before calling 911
- Ayres is charged with second-degree felony murder and first-degree domestic assault; he remains jailed without bond in Boone County
What's Next
Ayres is currently detained at the Boone County Jail awaiting prosecution. A preliminary hearing or arraignment date has not yet been set publicly. The Columbia Police Department continues its investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dunn's death.