Please post information in the comments related to the case! More than three years later, the skeletal remains of Megan were found in a shallow grave south of . However Wayne County court documents indicate that he has been or will be faced with: 3 counts murder or intent to kill or injure Either 1 count of concealing a homicidal death 2 counts of home invasion. While authorities first considered Megan a runaway, according to Dateline, her family didnt agree. Multiple agencies in Evansville, Indiana took Brodey Murbarger, 24, into custody Wednesday morning. At the time of Megan's disappearance, Brodey lived in Fairfield and had allegedly been dating the victim. We're told that the maximum sentence Murbarger faced for the crime was 60 years, and that the minimum possible sentence was 20 years. 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. Brodey Murbarger. 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? The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. He apologized to the victims' family and raised $1.6 million for them, according to the New York Times.But the family insisted he . This is a subreddit for those cases of murder that go unsolved for years, even decades. The radio station hasnt updated their transcripts yet since this morning. We have boarded and reboarded that house 15 times in the last two years, Lee said. Brodey Murbarger has been sentenced to prison for the murder of Fairfield, Illinois teen Megan Nichols. WAYNE COUNTY, IL A 26-year-old man charged with the murder of his 15-year-old girlfriend nearly 10 years ago is seeking to have his trial moved from Wayne County where the young girls body was found in a shallow grave years after her disappearance. According to the clerk, Murbarger will now be sentenced on Friday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. The documents show hes accused of strangling and suffocating Megan and burying her in a shallow grave. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. (WFIE) - Evansville police say detectives arrested an Evansville man on murder charges in relation to the 2014 disappearance/murder of Megan Nichols. Nichols, 15 was reported missing from her Fairfield, Illinois home in the early morning hours of July 3, 2014. 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. Welcome to the subreddit! There are many other important things that need to be taken care of financially in Placentia, she said. MURBARGER PRE TRIAL 3/19/22 The first-degree murder trial of 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger has been delayed until fall. The city says the owners should. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Murbarger stated he disposed of the shirt in a ditch. We will continue to provide updates on the case. (WFIE) - It's week two of a murder trial in Fairfield, Illinois for the man accused in the 2014 murder of 15-year old Megan Nichols. Murbarger had lived in Fairfield, and met Nichols at New Hope School, where he was a senior and she was a sophomore. Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance and killing of 15-year-old Megan 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. In March, the landowners had preliminary talks with the Placentia-Yorba Linda Art Assn. Murbarger faces a murder charge after an Illinois grand jury indicted him on September 25, 2020, in connection with Megan Nichols' disappearance and murder, the press release stated. But the bottom line is that something has to be settled with that property., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, L.A. County moves to require quake retrofits as Turkey-Syria death toll exceeds 50,000, Historic movie lot that gave Studio City its name to get $1-billion makeover, How renovation of an iconic Chinese mall represents a shift in L.A.s Chinese community. The stain tested positive in the field for blood. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020. RC Beverage Company. to turn the house into a permanent gallery for local artists. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. 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 house is one of only seven historical homes in the city, according to Donna Bass, chairwoman of Placentias historical committee. 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Murbarger is awaiting trial for the 2014 slaying of 15-year-old Megan Nichols of Fairfield. Nichols was considered a missing person until her remains were found in a field outside Boyleston, Illinois in 2017. Murbarger did address Judge Molt, asking for leniency. Brodey Murbarger has been sentenced to prison for the murder of Fairfield, Illinois teen Megan Nichols. Opinion: How has American healthcare gone so wrong? If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Megans death, please contact the FBI at (217) 522-9675. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Sentencing rescheduled for man convicted of Wayne County teen's murder, 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. 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. But the city has vetoed the owners previous proposals for the site, said Jeffrey Lee, spokesman for the group that owns the house. According to the Navigator Journal, Megan and Brodey Murbarger had previously dated. WAYNE CO., Ill. (WFIE) - The trial started Monday morning for the man accused in the 2014 murder of Megan Nichols. Its one of those things where you kind of always knew it was him," Hold told WFIE. However, theres a bit of relief now that an arrest has been made. Evansville man linked to murder of Megan Nichols, victims friend speaks out, 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. Further, a search warrant for his home was issued. Megan was dating an 18-year-old named Brodey Murbarger, an OSullivan said the messages at first were romantic and sexual in nature and included several references to the couple planning a runaway in mid-2014. There were a few cryptic clues left behind at the home, one was Megan's cell phone which had been completely wiped. The trial was set to begin May 2 but was delayed during a pretrial hearing on Friday in Wayne County Circuit Court. Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance and killing of 15-year-old Megan Nichols. Press J to jump to the feed. I am at work and had a lot of background noise but Im pretty confident that is what I heard. But the overriding question remains: Who should pay for the renovation? 00:56:29 - On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. FBI investigator William OSullivan testified Wednesday about the more than 7,000 text messages exchanged between Murbarger and Nichols between December 2013 and February 2014. 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. Family members could not be reached for comment. (Vanderburgh Co. The once-elegant 5,872-square-foot house, still flanked by birds-of-paradise bushes, is now a rotting shell. EVANSVILLE, Ind. Bass, the Placentia historian, said city officials balk at taking over the renovation because it will be so expensive. Her cell phone was also left behind and had been wiped clean. 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. But in February 2014 the messages reflected a more tumultuous relationship, with Murbarger at one point calling Nichols annoying.. 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. Murbarger then said he placed the shirt in the trunk, where leaking water caused the blood to spread. On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. I would love to see that house be taken and refurbished and something decent made there.. 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. The defense, however, argued the evidence is speculation and circumstantial. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was arrested Wednesday without incident and is in jail awaiting extradition back to Illinois. Edited spelling and corrected charges as of 2:00 PM. The documents show hes accused of strangling and suffocating Megan and burying her in a shallow grave. Bond has been set at $3 million. Evansville, Indiana Area. The owners say theyve grown deeply frustrated because they want to be rid of the property but cant seem to get an acceptable proposal past city officials. Its been six dark years for Nicholss family and friends, whose questions were left unanswered. I had never had someone that I was close to that had died and, you know, that was traumatic," August said. EVANSVILLE, Ind. As we previously reported, Brodey Murbarger, the man found guilty of murdering Fairfield teen Megan Nichols, was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday afternoon. She also left a note saying she loved her mother, but would never be happy at home. Megan was initially considered a missing person until her remains were located in a rural area in Wayne County Illinois in 2018. There was a problem saving your notification. To a 15 year old. Court documents show Murbarger was indicted on six counts. When youre hanging up a poster with your friends picture on it, thats when its like, Oh, this is real, August said. Hes remained in the Wayne County Jail since that time with bond set at $300,000 cash. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 and is facing a first-degree murder . In the 10 years that the property has been on the market, Lee said, there have been no offers. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. One is for concealment of homicidal death, and two are for home invasion. Her family didn't believe she was actually a runaway though and her disappearance was featured in Datelines digital series Missing in America.". He added that theres a bit of relief now that an arrest has been made. 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: . Murbarger. They dont want to pay for the property.. The court also heard from an FBI DNA expert who confirmed the blood in Murbargers trunk came from Megan Nichols. Then he was going to leave the house and build houses around it. This was an on-record portion of the proceedings, meaning defense, prosecution, and jury were there along with the judge and court reporter. According to Lee, the owners have lost a substantial amount of money on the property, which cost $750,000 in 1988. 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. The owners say the city should, particularly if officials are so set on preserving the home. After deliberating for more than an hour, a jury found Brodey Murbarger guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Megan Nichols. Its really hard to process, August said. At first, he wanted to take down the house, Rosenthal said. Following a telephone conference on Wednesday in Wayne County Circuit Court, Murbarger's defense attorney requested a continuance until October 3. An Evansville, Indiana man is facing charges in the disappearance and murder of teenager Megan Nichols in 2014. Lee said that proposal is on hold because talks are underway to sell the property to a builder who will renovate and move the Kraemer house to another spot on the parcel. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. August says Nicholss disappearance took awhile to digest for him and his classmates. UPDATE: Brodey Murbarger found guilty of murdering Megan Nichols in 2014. What happens when the murderer doesnt get caught? 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. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 and is facing a first-degree murder. In closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors told the jury Murbargers story has changed several times and that the varying stories contradict each other. The Court on Tuesday issued a protective order for Megan Nichols medical records. Its not just you, Work phones make a comeback as offices ban WhatsApp, TikTok. Friends say . Brodey Ian Murbarger of Evansville, Indiana has been arrested in connection with the murder of his former girlfriend, Megan Nichols. Copyright 2020 WFIE. Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols this afternoon after approx. Copyright 2022 WFIE. The investigator also testified the two were planning to runaway together five months prior to Nichols disappearance. Brodey Murbarger was arrested for Murder on today's date . All rights reserved. The first-degree murder trial of Brodey I. Murbarger began this morning with jury selection in Wayne County Circuit Court in Fairfield. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A chapter still remains unclosed as friends and families continue to wait. 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. Judge Michael Molt handed down the sentence at the conclusion of a two hour hearing before a packed Wayne County courtroom. 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. 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. 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. The Wayne County Circuit Clerk told us Wednesday that Murbarger's sentencing date was being delayed. 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.. On Friday, Murbarger was sentenced to 50 years in prison for Nichols's murder, according to court officials. 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. 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. The family, according to Lee and Bass, is not interested in paying to restore the home. But the city balked because of the homes historical significance, he said. A body was found - it was tragic, but maybe itll lead to something more. You have permission to edit this article. A month later, they were identified as those of Nichols. In Japanese court, Alkonis pleaded guilty to negligent driving. The charges include three counts of First Degree Murder, one count of Concealment of a Homicidal Death and two counts of Home Invasion. Murbarger was arrested in connection with Nichols' death in 2020 after she went missing in 2014 at the age of 15. The last tenants were 12 members of Cal State Fullertons Sigma Nu fraternity, who got a conditional-use permit from the city to live there from 1991 to 1997. Her whereabouts remained a mystery for three years until human remains were found on December 26, 2017. Local radio news at noon stated that the Grand Jury indictments cant yet be released. As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. (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. Murbarger had lived in Fairfield, and met Nichols at New Hope School, where he was a senior and she was a sophomore. The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. Rosenthal said, however, that the requests were stalled because the city was waiting for acceptable renovation proposals from the owners. A search warrant was also executed at Murbargers home at the Lakewood West apartment complex in Evansville, Indiana. The City Council will consider that option at its Dec. 19 meeting, said Joyce Rosenthal, director of development services for Placentia. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. But FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware could not confirm these details to Dateline due to the case being an ongoing investigation. Lee said that when they bought the property, they believed that the city would let them clear the site and build condominiums. We asked the city to condemn the property, but they refused to do that. Another was a note that Megan had written that contained very . 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. Under that plan, new homes would have been built around the Kraemer house for a colony of resident artists. https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/closing-arguments-wrap-up-in-murbarger-murder-trial-jury-to-deliberate/. 1 seed in ACC, edges Pitt 78-76 for, Kitayama holds onto Bay Hill lead over Scheffler,, No. I dont want to get too excited," August said. 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. On Wednesday, an FBI investigator told the jury about text messages between Murbarger and Nichols which. You have permission to edit this article. https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/closing-arguments-wrap-up-in-murbarger-murder-trial-jury-to-deliberate/amp/. Murbarger remains in custody in Indiana pending extradition to Illinois. It had been wiped clean. Also, Im no expert so I dont understand the multiple counts of murder and dont want to speculate. Sep 2019 - Present3 years 5 months. Murbarger was arrested in 2020 while working in Indiana. Jail) [Previous: 'I'm sick,' says woman who discovered Megan Nichols'.