According to Lee, the owners continued to lose money on the property even when it was occupied because the monthly mortgage and taxes are about $4,500. We're continuing to follow the outcome out of a murder trial that's happening in Wayne County, Illinois. https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/closing-arguments-wrap-up-in-murbarger-murder-trial-jury-to-deliberate/amp/. It was hard to get a configuration that looks nice, said Lee, adding that the proposal has been drafted but not yet officially submitted to the city. But FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware could not confirm these details to Dateline due to the case being an ongoing investigation. The defense team for Murbarger says the evidence in the case is speculation and circumstantial, citing there is no motive for Murbarger to commit murder, and no evidence that Nichols death was due to strangulation. In March, the landowners had preliminary talks with the Placentia-Yorba Linda Art Assn. Brodey I. Murbarger has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of his former girlfriend, 15-year-old Megan Nichols of Fairfield. Press J to jump to the feed. He was arrested Wednesday without incident and is in jail awaiting extradition back to Illinois. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was arrested Wednesday, October 8, 2020, in the 2014 murder of 15-year-old Megan Nichols whose body was found nearly three years ago in a shallow grave in southeastern. A 24 year old is not a former bf. Murbarger stated he disposed of the shirt in a ditch. That would allow the developer to build a road and more homes on the site without razing the historical structure. Copyright 2022 WFIE. The plans we submitted before had up to 10 to 14 homes, which was higher density. What happens when the murderer doesnt get caught? His attorney, Christian Baril, filed two motions before Judge Michael Molt- one for the allowance of in-person visits with Murbarger and another for the reduction of the current $300,000 cash bond. Murdaugh, 54, was found guilty of all four counts against him on Thursday in connection with the deaths of his 52-year-old wife, Maggie, and their 22-year-old son, Paul, near the dog kennels of. So finally leading to an arrest is great, but I guess I will truly be at ease if he is found guilty - if justice can truly be served.. His attorney, Christian J. Baril, told Judge Michael Molt and State's Attorney Kevin Kakac the review of discovery materials is going well. The defense, however, argued the evidence is speculation and circumstantial. An abatement order would require the houses owners to repair, rebuild or demolish the house. He apologized to the victims' family and raised $1.6 million for them, according to the New York Times.But the family insisted he . Its one of those things where you kind of always knew it was him," Hold told WFIE. According to court documents, Brodey Murbarger was indicted on three counts of first degree murder, one count of concealment of homicidal death and two counts of home invasion. Murbarger did address Judge Molt, asking for leniency. There are reports that Murbarger and Nichols had at one point dated, but the FBI could not confirm that to Dateline because of the ongoing investigation. FAIRFIELD, Ill. (WEHT)- Friends and family of Megan Nichols have been on an emotional rollercoaster as her former boyfriend Brodey Murbarger is behind bars, accused of murdering her. The once-elegant . They paid $2,800 a month for rent. RC Beverage Company. Nichols, 15 was reported missing from her Fairfield, Illinois home in the early morning hours of July 3, 2014. (WFIE) - Its week two of a murder trial in Fairfield, Illinois for the man accused in the 2014 murder of 15-year old Megan Nichols. A farmer found the remains three years after the 15-year-old girl was reported missing. Speaking on behalf of the city, Rosenthal said the best possible scenario is that the house be restored and placed on the states list of historical homes. I am at work and had a lot of background noise but Im pretty confident that is what I heard. Megan was dating an 18-year-old named Brodey Murbarger, and the relationship had caused a rift between Megan and her mother. As they see it, there are only two options left: Sell the property to a builder for development or allow the city to take over the site and pay for the restoration. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Search for Free Cell Phone Deals Without Paying, Datelines digital series Missing in America. Brodey Murbarger has been sentenced to prison for the murder of Fairfield, Illinois teen Megan Nichols. 4. It used to be luxurious: five bedrooms, a guest house over the garage, a swimming pool, a hot tub and cabana, a lighted tennis court and a covered barbecue. You have permission to edit this article. Three are for first degree murder. WAYNE CO., Ill. (WFIE) - The trial started Monday morning for the man accused in the 2014 murder of Megan Nichols. The state then rested its case and the defense not only called Murbargers father Jayson Murbarger to the stand but called the defendant himself to testify. Welcome to the subreddit! Its been six dark years for Nicholss family and friends, whose questions were left unanswered. There are many other important things that need to be taken care of financially in Placentia, she said. WAYNE CO., Ill. (WFIE) - The trial started Monday morning for the man accused in the 2014 murder of Megan Nichols. Her cell phone was also left behind and had been wiped clean. Murbarger was taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail, but he is no longer an inmate. They told the jurors there was no motive for Murbarger to kill Nichols, Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 14_7_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/14.1.2 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1, Shawn Parrs Backstage Country, Weeknights, JEFFERSON COUNTY ARREST REPORTS OCTOBER 13TH, 2022, Odin man pleads guilty in child sex abuse case. The FBI, along with many law enforcement organizations, including the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and the Evansville Police Department, continue to investigate Megans case. The house is one of only seven historical homes in the city, according to Donna Bass, chairwoman of Placentias historical committee. According to Lee, the owners have lost a substantial amount of money on the property, which cost $750,000 in 1988. Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols this afternoon after approx. During closing arguments Thursday, the state of Illinois argued that Murbarger has changed his story several times through interviews with police, claiming all stories contradict one another. The state also says during police interviews, Murbarger told others he went to Nichols house around 9:30 pm July 3, 2014 because he thought she had run away. On Wednesday, an FBI investigator told the jury about text messages between Murbarger and Nichols which revealed the two were in a sexual relationship. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 and is facing a first-degree murder . At first, he wanted to take down the house, Rosenthal said. One is for concealment of homicidal death, and two are for home invasion. As Dateline previously reported, the 15-year-old was last seen on July 3, 2014, at her home in Fairfield, Illinois, where she lived with her mother and stepfather. The city felt that was too crowded.. If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Megans death, please contact the FBI at (217) 522-9675. The father and son were asked about blood found in the defendants car prosecutors argued was used to transport Megans body to a rural Boyleston field where it was buried. The City Council has declared the house a public nuisance, and the city Planning Commission voted this month for abatement. The property is highly problematic now, said Lee, because the owners lost their liability insurance in 1998. A month later, they were identified as those of Nichols. Credit: Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office, Credit: Evansville Police Department/WFIE, Search for accused Johnson County scammer ends in arrest, Boone County Deputy Jacob Pickett remembered on 5 year anniversary of line of duty death, Live Doppler 13 Weather Blog: Record-breaking rain raises ongoing flood concerns, Live Doppler 13 Weather Blog: Mild air returns with more rain, snow returning late week, Datelines digital series Missing in America, Two women missing in southwestern Indiana, Suspect in 1986 cold case dies months after confession. Murbarger is strangled and suffocated Megan Nichols to death in her Fairfield home on July 3, 2014, and later buried her body in a shallow grave in a rural part of Wayne County. The family called police to report her missing at about 1 am July 4, 2014. The trial was set to begin May 2 but was delayed during a pretrial hearing on Friday in Wayne County Circuit Court. Theres no sense of closure and the families of the victims are left devastated. The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. Parlor Doughnuts hold soft opening for new location on Main St. Man arrested on murder charges in Providence. An Illinois grand jury issued the indictment for Murbarger in connection with the murder and disappearance of Megan Nichols. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 and is facing a first-degree murder. Follow 44News on Facebook, or download the free 44News apps on Android or Apple devices. On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. Police say Nichols was initially considered a missing person until her remains were found in a rural area in Wayne County, Illinois in 2018. Testimony began Tuesday with officers from the Illinois State Police as well as the FBI who conducted separate searches of the car Brodey Murbarger used at the time of Megan Nichols disappearance. He was arrested Wednesday without incident and is in jail awaiting extradition back to Illinois. Murbarger was arrested in connection with Nichols' death in 2020 after she went missing in 2014 at the age of 15. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Brodey Murbarger was arrested at his place of employment Wednesday without incident. In July, a fire damaged the propertys garage, according to Placentia police. Jail) [Previous: 'I'm sick,' says woman who discovered Megan Nichols'. All rights reserved. As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. She also left a note saying she loved her mother, but would never be happy at home. But in February 2014 the messages reflected a more tumultuous relationship, with Murbarger at one point calling Nichols annoying.. The owners say the city should, particularly if officials are so set on preserving the home. We asked the city to condemn the property, but they refused to do that. 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger appeared in a status hearing via Zoom in Wayne County Circuit Court yesterday morning. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was indicted in September by a grand jury. All rights reserved. In Japanese court, Alkonis pleaded guilty to negligent driving. 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Megans mother, Kathy Jo Hutchcraft, discovered her daughter missing from her room around 11 p.m. Dateline reported that she later found a note Megan reportedly left behind, telling her that she loved her, but she would never be happy at home. Quality Control Laboratory Technician. [Exclusive: People who found remains in Wayne Co. talk to 14 News]. Then he was going to leave the house and build houses around it. One month later, on January 26, 2018, authorities positively identified the remains as belonging to Megan. Jena Reynolds, Marriage & Family Therapist, Placentia, CA, 92870, (949) 383-4561, During my 10 years as a Psychotherapist, I have provided counseling to those challenged by: . August says Nicholss disappearance took awhile to digest for him and his classmates. EVANSVILLE, Ind. The remains were found in a rural location in Wayne County, Illinois, FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware previously told Dateline. EVANSVILLE, Ind. Link has been updated, guilty verdict returned. In the meantime, he hasnt done what we think is the proper maintenance on the site.. The Wayne County Circuit Clerk told us Wednesday that Murbarger's sentencing date was being delayed. Through those statements, the state says Murbarger places himself with Nichols on the night and time she disappeared. He was taken Friday to a jail in Illinois. Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance and killing of 15-year-old Megan Nichols. A hearing on all pending motions in the case is scheduled for March 18 with a May 2 setting being eyed as a possible start date for a jury trial. The Court on Tuesday issued a protective order for Megan Nichols medical records. Placentias historical Kraemer house sits abandoned with a broken balcony, boarded-up windows, a weed- and trash-choked lawn and broken glass strewn across the cracked driveway. A private party could restore the Kraemer house as a residence, or someone could restore it and use it for some low-key use, like a bed-and-breakfast, she said. Nichols, 15 was reported missing from her Fairfield, Illinois home in the early morning hours of July 3, 2014. The investigator also testified the two were planning to runaway together five months prior to Nichols disappearance. Lee said the group of owners would like nothing better than to cut ties to the property. Website: www.renovaricounseling.com. Nichols was considered a missing person until her remains were found in a field outside Boyleston, Illinois in 2017. Friends say . Murbarger was arrested in 2020 while working in Indiana. As we previously reported, Brodey Murbarger, the man found guilty of murdering Fairfield teen Megan Nichols, was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday afternoon. We're told that the maximum sentence Murbarger faced for the crime was 60 years, and that the minimum possible sentence was 20 years. She had left her cell phone behind at the house. FAIRFIELD, Ill (WEHT) Brodey Murbarger, 26, was found guilty of first degree murder on Thursday after the jury deliberated for only an hour. In the first count of First Degree Murder charges, Murbarger is accused of intentionally or knowingly caused Megan Nichols to be suffocated, knowing said act would cause the death of Megan Nichols. In the second count, Murbarger is accused of intentionally or knowingly caused Megan Nichols to be strangled, knowing said act would cause the death of Megan Nichols. A chapter still remains unclosed as friends and families continue to wait. RELATED: Two women missing in southwestern Indiana, RELATED: Suspect in 1986 cold case dies months after confession, Example video title will go here for this video. A body was found - it was tragic, but maybe itll lead to something more. In reference to the varying stories, the defense states Murbarger was an awkward teen under a lot of pressure due to rumors circulating of his involvement in Nichols disappearance and would have been flustered during interrogations. According to the clerk, Murbarger will now be sentenced on Friday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. Murbargerwas arrestedin connection with Nichols' death in 2020 after she went missing in 2014 at the age of 15. Another was a note that Megan had written that contained very . Meanwhile, the abandoned home has been plagued by graffiti, vandalism and arson. But the overriding question remains: Who should pay for the renovation? Its not just you, Work phones make a comeback as offices ban WhatsApp, TikTok. As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. "Which excited is a weird word for something like this, but I think that Ive gotten excited from, Oh, shes been sighted over there, - you know, that kind of thing. During the more than two-week trial, jurors heard testimony from multiple witnesses some of them surprising. Court then moved outside so jurors could have the chance to see the car themselves. Brodey Murbarger, 24, has been charged with murder, Evansville Police said. I think the Kraemer house has tremendous possibilities, Bass said. Murbarger took the stand on Wednesday and testified that Nichols blood was in his car after a sexual encounter in which he used his shirt to clean the blood. The trial continues on Wednesday. However, theres a bit of relief now that an arrest has been made. Murbarger is awaiting trial for the 2014 slaying of 15-year-old Megan Nichols of Fairfield. (WFIE) - Evansville police say detectives arrested an Evansville man on murder charges in relation to the 2014 disappearance/murder of Megan Nichols. Rosenthal said, however, that the requests were stalled because the city was waiting for acceptable renovation proposals from the owners. Now the price tag for renovation has reached $300,000. A pre-trial hearing was held yesterday (Tuesday) via Zoom in Wayne County Circuit Court for 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger. Multiple agencies in Evansville, Indiana took Brodey Murbarger, 24, into custody Wednesday morning. (Vanderburgh Co. No further details were released. The once-elegant 5,872-square-foot house, still flanked by birds-of-paradise bushes, is now a rotting shell. There were a few cryptic clues left behind at the home, one was Megan's cell phone which had been completely wiped. Tesla Mexico plant means $10-billion investment, Nuevo Leon governor says, Assistants kindly request that you stop calling them assistants, Working more on the weekends? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Family members could not be reached for comment. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was arrested Wednesday without incident and is in jail awaiting extradition back to Illinois. They have been trying either to find a builder who would buy and clean up the site or pursue some other option that would make city officials happy while unloading the property. There was a problem saving your notification. Brodey Murbarger was arrested for Murder on today's date . This was an on-record portion of the proceedings, meaning defense, prosecution, and jury were there along with the judge and court reporter. 00:56:29 - On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. The manner of death was determined to be homicide. At the time of Megan's disappearance, Brodey lived in Fairfield and had allegedly been dating the victim. We will continue to provide updates on the case. Nichols had gone missing in 2014 at the age of 15, but in 2017, her remains were discovered in a rural area of Wayne County, eventually leading to Murbarger's arrest. But the city balked because of the homes historical significance, he said. Hes remained in the Wayne County Jail since that time with bond set at $300,000 cash. We have boarded and reboarded that house 15 times in the last two years, Lee said. He said he then placed the shirt in the trunk, where leaking water caused the blood to spread. The court also heard from an FBI DNA expert who confirmed the blood in Murbargers trunk came from Megan Nichols. The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. . Its really hard to process, August said. After deliberating for more than an hour, a jury found Brodey Murbarger guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Megan Nichols. According to authorities, prior to her disappearance, Megan withdrew money from a local bank while on her bicycle. Last November a Wayne County jury found Brodey Murbarger responsible for strangling or smothering Megan Nichols to death. Megan was dating an 18-year-old named Brodey Murbarger, an WAYNE COUNTY A Wayne County jury has started deliberations in the case charging 26-year-old Brodey Murbarger with the 2014 murder and disappearance of his high school girlfriend Megan Nichols. Its one of those things where you kind of always knew it was him," August said. Brodey Murbarger testified that Megans blood was in his car after a sexual encounter, in which he used his shirt to clean the blood. Im local to her and her family, local radio just announced that the former boyfriend, Brodey Murbarger, has been arrested in connection with her disappearance and death. Her whereabouts remained a mystery for three years until human remains were found on December 26, 2017. Once back in the courtroom, the jury also heard from the FBI agent who collected Megan Nichols remains once they were discovered, and saw the pictures from the scene. 1 seed in ACC, edges Pitt 78-76 for, Kitayama holds onto Bay Hill lead over Scheffler,, No. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Funeral arrangements made for Vanderburgh County, Late morning pileup slows traffic on Henderson strip, Overnight emergency shelter opening tonight in Owensboro, Flags flown at half-staff in Perry County, Greenville FD free person trapped after tree falls, Miami takes No. Brodey Murbarger was arrested at his place of employment Wednesday without incident. Nichols was considered a missing person until her remains were found in a field outside Boyleston, Illinois in 2017. The charges include three counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Concealment of a Homicidal Death and two counts of Home Invasion. Jury moves outside to see suspects car on day 7 of Ill. murder trial, Evansville hotel manager accused of stealing from guest, Silver Alert canceled for elderly Evansville woman, Dispatch: Missing persons case underway after car found under Twin Bridges. MURBARGER PRE TRIAL 3/19/22 The first-degree murder trial of 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger has been delayed until fall. More than three years later, the skeletal remains of Megan were found in a shallow grave south of . The dates of the alleged acts were on or between July 2, 2014 and July 3, 2014 in count 5 and one or more occasions and as a continuing course of action between November 28, 2013 and July 1, 2014. Murbarger was set for trial September 19 for the slaying of 15-year-old Megan Nichols of Fairfield. The agent who led the FBIs search of the car showed jurors where they found a red stain in the trunk, underneath the trunk lining below the locking mechanism. An Indiana man was arrested Wednesday for the 2014 murder of an Illinois teen whose body was found nearly three years ago in a shallow grave. UPDATE: Brodey Murbarger found guilty of murdering Megan Nichols in 2014. Local radio news at noon stated that the Grand Jury indictments cant yet be released. The house has slid from being a city jewel to a prominent eyesore. Brodey Murbarger. The stain tested positive in the field for blood. Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/103.0.0.0 Safari/537.36, Shawn Parrs Backstage Country, Weeknights, President Biden announces new sanctions against Russia, countering Putins invasion of Ukraine, Three out of state residents arrested near Effingham for trafficking drugs. to turn the house into a permanent gallery for local artists. Indeed, several structures--including Placentias historical water tower, a school and a major county thoroughfare--already bear the Kraemer name in honor of one of the early families to settle the county. Placentia's historical Kraemer house sits abandoned with a broken balcony, boarded-up windows, a weed- and trash-choked lawn and broken glass strewn across the cracked driveway. FAIRFIELD, Ill. (WEHT) - As the murder trial for Brodey Murbarger continues into its second week, the jury heard from two unexpected witnesses, first Murbarger's father Jayson, followed by. There was a problem saving your notification. Murbarger was arrested in 2020 while working in Indiana. From Evansville, IN newsman (formerly of Fairfield): Brodey Ian Murbarger of Evansville, Indiana has been arrested in connection with the murder of his former girlfriend, Megan Nichols. WAYNE COUNTY A 27-year-old former Fairfield man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for strangling his then-high school girlfriend to death nearly 10 years ago. On September 29, a Wayne County Grand Jury indicted Murbarger on six separate charges. But the city has vetoed the owners previous proposals for the site, said Jeffrey Lee, spokesman for the group that owns the house. Our biggest concern was that something of value didnt turn into a piece of junk, but the city may be too late in its efforts to save the house, Bass said. Brodey Murbargers attorney filed a motion on his clients behalf Tuesday. The family, according to Lee and Bass, is not interested in paying to restore the home. Megan was initially considered a missing person until her remains were located in a rural area in Wayne County Illinois in 2018. Hes accused of strangling and suffocating Nichols and burying her in a shallow grave. An Evansville, Indiana man is facing charges in the disappearance and murder of teenager Megan Nichols in 2014. In closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors told the jury Murbargers story has changed several times and that the varying stories contradict each other. Bass, the Placentia historian, said city officials balk at taking over the renovation because it will be so expensive. The sheriff here reports that the arrest was made by Evansville IN PD at the direction of the FBI and his office is not involved at this time. one hour of jury deliberation. Under that plan, new homes would have been built around the Kraemer house for a colony of resident artists. You have permission to edit this article. The first-degree murder trial of Brodey I. Murbarger began this morning with jury selection in Wayne County Circuit Court in Fairfield. On Friday, Murbarger was sentenced to 50 years in prison for Nichols's murder, according to court officials. Lee said that when they bought the property, they believed that the city would let them clear the site and build condominiums. He added that theres a bit of relief now that an arrest has been made. Her family didn't believe she was actually a runaway though and her disappearance was featured in Datelines digital series Missing in America.". Brodey Murbarger, man convicted of murdering Wayne County teen Megan Nichols, sentenced to prison, Indiana man arrested in Wayne County teens murder, Man found guilty of murder in Wayne County teen's death, Another Government Agency Being Impersonated by Scammers Calling Tri-Staters, Wayne County Sheriff Locates Student Who Never Came Home From Class, 21-year-old pleaded guilty in designer phone case, Former student-athlete speaks amidst misconduct investigation at a local college, Child dies after falling off cliff at Garden of the Gods, Jury selection begins in trial for man accused of murdering Illinois teen.