Moberly residents hold tribute ride, raise thousands of dollars for killed Randolph County teen
Alison Patton
MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Hundreds of Moberly residents gathered to ride motorcycles, cars, and some people even watched the procession nearby in memory of 16-year-old Kayla Huff on Saturday night.
People met outside of Moberly City Hall, located at 101 W. Reed St., and hit the road in memory of Huff around 8 p.m.
Organizers Dustin Ritch and Kristina Stockton sent out a press release noting the ride was approved by the Huff family and would be police escorted.
Huff went missing at the beginning of May and was found dead at the Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area one week later. Four adult suspects and a juvenile have been charged in connection with her death and disappearance.
Alayna Mason, 20, and Hunter Ames, 19, both of Moberly, are charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in the death of Huff. Ames faces an additional charge of tampering with evidence. Christopher Hull, 23, and Julian Mason, 26, both of Moberly, are charged with kidnapping and tampering with evidence.
Alayna Mason is also charged with stealing a vehicle, stealing a gun and escaping confinement after she allegedly stole a Randolph County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. A fifth adult, Skyler Powell, 24, of Moberly, was accused of helping Alayna Mason evade police and was charged with hindering the prosecution of a felony.
“I’m hoping, one, that we pull together as a community and help each other be there in whatever struggles we have, kind of open our big hearts again and stop being so closed off. We can be there for each other, like a community should,” Stockton said in an interview with ABC 17 News.
Huff’s dad, Mike Huff, briefly addressed a crowd of over 50 people Saturday, with more in their vehicles nearby listening, before the group took to the streets.
“I just want to thank everyone for being here,” Mike Huff said. “You guys are holding us up right now, and I really appreciate it.”
He posted a longer message on Facebook earlier in the day.
“I would like to ask a favor of everyone today. Please post only positive posts this weekend. Fill Facebook with love in honor of my daughter Kayla Huff. She wanted to spread love and happiness into this world and if we would join her in that, maybe we would be able to start seeing the world as she wanted to see it,” Huff wrote.
Donations to help the family with funeral costs, lost wages and medical bills were accepted at the event.
The Gilded Lily Tattoo Shop also hosted a fundraiser that started at noon and ended at 8 p.m. Over $4,500 will be donated to the Huff family from that fundraiser, Stockton said.
The community raised a total of $5,951, according to Ritch.
Shop owner Hailey Redding said the shop saw over 200 customers Saturday, who received tattoos from a flash sheet that represented Huff in some way. One option was a phrase: “Justice for Kayla.” Other options included a purple ribbon, ladybugs, the date she went missing–May 6–angels and a basketball hoop.
The Kayla Huff Memorial Scholarship also accepted donations at the event. Heather Cleavinger, one of the scholarship founders and vice president of the Moberly School District, said as of Saturday afternoon, it had already raised more than $1,500.
The scholarship will be awarded to at least one student, starting with Huff’s graduating class of 2028, and will be at least $1,000.