Officials find remains thought to be those of missing Missouri girl

The parents of missing girl Breeann Rodriguez search for her body. A 43-year-old Missouri man told police that he suffocated his 3-year-old neighbor with a plastic bag, then stuffed her body in the same bag and tossed her from a highway, according to a court document. Shawn Morgan of Senath has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Breeann Rodriguez.

Photo courtesy of Daily Dunklin Democrat

The parents of missing girl Breeann Rodriguez search for her body. A 43-year-old Missouri man told police that he suffocated his 3-year-old neighbor with a plastic bag, then stuffed her body in the same bag and tossed her from a highway, according to a court document. Shawn Morgan of Senath has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Breeann Rodriguez.

CNN Wire Service
August 16, 2011

Authorities have found what they believe to be the remains of Breeann Rodriguez, a 3-year-old Missouri girl whose neighbor told police he had suffocated the girl with a plastic bag and then tossed her from a highway.

The remains were found Tuesday evening along a ditch northeast of Hornersville, Mo., about 8 to 10 miles from the girl’s home in Senath, said Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff said

Earlier Tuesday, 43-year-old Shawn Morgan of Senath appeared in court. He has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Breeann’s death.

CNN’s Marlena Baldacci contributed to this report