Aaron Emery Identified as Kinloch Homicide Victim; Man Faces Murder Charge

By Habari News | October 16, 2026

KINLOCH, Mo. — St. Louis County police have identified 50-year-old Aaron Emery as the man killed in a Kinloch homicide investigation announced earlier this week.

In an October 16 update, police said they believe Emery was unhoused.

The identification follows charges filed October 12 against Isaac Arman, 53, of St. Louis, for second-degree murder and armed criminal action. According to police, Arman is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond, with no 10% payment option.

The charges are accusations. Arman is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Police Outline Evidence in Probable Cause Statement

According to the probable cause statement provided by police, officers responding to a suspicious-person call in Kinloch spoke with a witness who reported that a man driving a white car had been loud and acting erratically before leaving.

Investigators found the victim nearby in a grassy median with multiple stab wounds, the statement alleges.

Police said a trail camera near the scene recorded a white car identified as Arman’s in the area around that time.

Investigators later located the vehicle at Arman’s residence and observed damage to its passenger-side mirror and windshield, according to the statement. Police said a FLOCK camera image taken earlier that day showed the vehicle without that damage.

The statement also alleges that officers discovered blood evidence on the vehicle’s passenger seat, ceiling, driver’s-side door and front passenger door.

Police reported recovering a black jacket from Arman’s apartment that was consistent with the witness’s clothing description. Officers also found two knives on Arman when he was detained, according to the statement.

The supplied release does not report forensic testing results connecting the blood evidence or knives to Emery.

Arman Told Investigators His Vehicle Had Been Stolen

During an interview, Arman acknowledged owning the vehicle and being its only driver, according to the probable cause statement.

He told investigators the car had been stolen in North County before the incident, forcing him to walk toward Maplewood. He said he then happened upon the vehicle in Kinloch.

The supplied materials do not include a response from a defense attorney or identify a motive.

Investigation Remains Active

Police first announced the homicide investigation on October 11, reporting that officers found an adult man with traumatic injuries near Wesley Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The later probable cause statement describes the discovery location as a grassy median at Witt and Martin Luther King. The supplied releases do not explain the difference in location descriptions.

The initial release said the cause of death was pending autopsy results. The October 16 identification update did not provide a final autopsy finding.

Detectives with the St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 636-529-8210. Anonymous tips can be submitted to CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477), where tipsters may be eligible for a reward.

Source: St. Louis County Police Department releases dated October 11, 12, and 16, 2026.