Overland Park, KS: Two men charged in death of woman whose body was found near highway

By JOE LAMBE
The Kansas City Star
Johnson County prosecutors Friday charged two men in the death of a woman whose body was found near a Miami County highway.

The victim was identified as Angela Cott, 29. Her husband, Jason Cott Sr., 30, was charged with first-degree murder and Alexis Cruz Leza, 32, was charged with aiding a felon. Both men are from Overland Park.

The Cotts were married and had a child together. In 2008, Angela Cott obtained a temporary order of protection against him, according to court records.

She said in her petition that she suffered emotional and physical abuse, including “hitting me with the bathroom door, throwing me up into a wall or bed, and pushing me down … saying he was going to kill me.”

A judge dismissed the protection order in less than a month at the request of both Cotts, according to court records.

Angela Cott’s body was found Wednesday along U.S. 69, and Miami County authorities soon transferred the case to Lenexa police.

Lenexa police believe she was killed at the Knights Inn, 9630 Rosehill Road.

An autopsy was performed, but authorities have not released the cause of death.

Jason Cott is being held on $1 million bond and Leza on $500,000 bond.