A St. Joseph man is accused of stabbing and killing 17-year-old Kaytlin Root whose body was found last week in Krug Park.

Sebastian Dowell, 18 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony for second-degree murder.  The charge carries a penalty of 10-30 years or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole until after 85% of any sentence ordered has been served.

According to court documents, on Sunday, Oct. 16, Dowell and a second person lured Root to meet them at a location in St. Joseph and urged Root not to tell anyone who she was meeting.

“The defendant, second party, and the victim rode around for awhile and eventually went to Krug Park,” Det. Greg Ogdahl said. “Once there, the three people walked to a secluded area where the victim was rendered unconscious.”

Ogdahl said Root was stabbed or cut more then twice and died from the injuries.

Authorities started investigating Root’s death as a homicide after her body was found by a runner off of a bike trail at Krug Park Sunday, Oct. 16 around 9:20 a.m.

Bond for Dowell has been denied.  He’s scheduled for an arraignment Tuesday at 9 a.m. in front of Judge Keith Marquart.

A 17-year-old girl has also been charged in connection with Root’s death in Juvenile Court with a class A felony of murder in the second degree.  She is scheduled to appear in juvenile court Tuesday at 1 p.m. for a hearing.