A man from Missouri, Tony Lawrence Charboneau, and his girlfriend, Brandi Luffy, have been charged with several felonies, including murder and kidnapping, in connection with the death of Charboneau’s ex-girlfriend, Amy Hogue. The Washington County District Attorney’s Office made this announcement on Monday, more than a month after Hogue, 43, was reported missing in June.
According to prosecutors, Charboneau had a history of domestic assault against Hogue before she was killed. It was reported that on June 20, Charboneau and Luffy got into a verbal argument with Hogue at Charboneau’s home, which eventually led to Charboneau physically assaulting her by punching and stomping on her. Hogue was trying to leave the residence when the brutal assault occurred, as confirmed by Washington County Sheriff Zach Jacobsen.
The couple then restrained Hogue to a wheelchair using ratchet straps, placed various tools and a gun in Charboneau’s vehicle, and drove her to a wooded area near his home. There, Charboneau dug a shallow grave, shot Hogue, burned her remains, and covered the grave with rocks and tree limbs. They attempted to cover up the crime by burning the straps and tarp and throwing Hogue’s purse in a river. Her purse was found in mid-July, leading authorities to believe she was dead.
Charboneau was initially arrested on domestic assault charges in July and has been in custody since. Luffy confessed to acting as a lookout while Charboneau killed and buried Hogue, providing detectives with the location of the grave. Hogue’s remains were found decomposed with a bullet wound to her head.
Prosecuting attorney John Jones expressed horror over the case and vowed to bring the victim’s killers to justice. Charboneau faces charges of first-degree murder, domestic assault, kidnapping, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Luffy is charged with felony murder, kidnapping, abandonment of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
Taylor Crider, Hogue’s daughter-in-law, expressed the family’s grief and set up a GoFundMe to help with cremation expenses, emphasizing that Hogue did not deserve what happened to her. She described Hogue as a loved family member who was taken away too soon.
Domestic violence is a serious issue, and those in need of help can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) in the U.S. The tragic case of Amy Hogue serves as a reminder of the dangers of domestic abuse and the importance of seeking help and support in such situations.
