(KMZA)--Two men are charged in connection with the death of an elderly Vermillion man whose body was located inside the ruins of his burned out home in January.
According to a release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Marshall County Attorney filed criminal charges Thursday against 18-year-old Jeremy Penix II, of Melvern, and 47-year-old Jefferson Goad, of Waverly.
Both are charged with first degree murder, conspiracy, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, arson, and interference with law enforcement.
Both Goad and Penix were charged last month in connection with a January 22 burglary at McLaughlin’s home, and were already in custody at the time the charges were upgraded.
Penix is being held in the Washington County Jail, while Goad is jailed in Marshall County.
The investigation that led to the charges followed the death of 83-year-old Donald McLaughlin, whose body was located inside his home following a January 24 fire and explosion.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal investigated, assisted by the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
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