A tip to the Worth County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department has resulted in the discovery woman’s body. Melissa Chapman, from Grant City, went missing on or about August 23rd.  Her vehicle was found in Mount Ayr, with her cell phone found inside the vehicle. The Creston (Iowa) Police Department has said Chapman was a long-term Creston resident. The Worth County Prosecutor’s Office reports her body was found Monday outside of Grant City, MO., in Worth County, after the tip was received at around 5-p.m., Monday. Authorities say a suspect is in custody, and homicide investigation underway at this time. Chapman had been set to testify against a man who allegedly beat and threatened to kill her.

Chapman was scheduled to testify in a criminal case against Jeremiah Searles, in Harrison County, Missouri. Records show Searles is charged with domestic assault and kidnapping from an incident in March. A Criminal Complaint alleges Searles had grabbed Chapman by the throat during the incident, and threatened to kill her. He also allegedly threw her nine-year old son down and held him down, when the child attempted to get Searles to stop hitting Chapman. Searles is alleged to have held her captive for about three-hours, refusing to give the woman her car keys or phone. He was also said to have blocked the door, preventing her from leaving.

Reports says Searles was released by the court in June, after posting a $1,000 bond. His trial was set for November. Searles…who has at least four convictions on various charges…faces a sex offender registry charge. Searles reportedly led authorities to the woman’s body, He was being held in the Harrison County, MO., Jail.