Drifter charged with murder

The week's news at a glance.

Valley Park, Mo.

A homeless man was charged with abducting and killing a 6-year-old Missouri girl, Cassandra “Casey” Williamson, whose family had given him a place to sleep. The girl’s father said Casey was with suspect Johnny Johnson, 24, the last time he saw her. A neighbor found her body in an abandoned glass factory. Police said Johnson took Casey there, tried to rape her, then bashed her in the head. Neighbors, already moved by a string of recent abductions across America, piled cards and toys outside the family’s home. “There isn’t anything that can help you get through this,” said Jim Wideman, Casey’s grandfather.