Teen, 14, charged in murder, robbery of grandparents
08/10/2015 1:59 pm PDT
A 14-year-old boy was charged as an adult last week in the murders of his grandparents in Arkansas.
The unidentified teen is alleged to have hatched a plot to rob and kill his grandparents while he was incarcerated in a juvenile jail with at least two other teens.
Robert and Patricia Cogdell, 66, were found shot to death outside their house on Quail Run Circle in Conway, Arkansas on July 22. They are believed have been killed the night before.
The couple's grandson, Justin Shane Staton, 14, was later arrested at his mother's house. He has been charged with capital murder, aggravated robbery, theft of property and abuse of a corpse. Hunter John Drexler, 17, was also arrested and faces the same charges. Police said Staton admitted to being involved in the murders.
- Two other 17-year-olds reported they were at the scene and described how Drexler shot the couple. They said Robert Cogdell did not immediately die -- they said Staton then allegedly shot his grandfather two times. The teens told police that Staton and Drexler allegedly put the bodies by the tree line of the property using a tractor.
Anastasia Roberts, Hunter Drexler, Conner Atchley
Drexler and the two other teens -- Anastasia Roberts and Conner Atchley -- were stopped by police at a convenience store and searched. Police found two knives, drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana.
- One of the teens had a gunshot wound to the chest, and another also had a gunshot wound. Neither injury was life-threatening.
Police were called to the Cogdell house 15 times in the past three years for incidents including two reports of a runaway, three animal welfare reports, domestic disturbance calls and a suicide threat-attempt. The majority of the calls were made by Pat Cogdell, according to police records.
SOURCES: Teens arrested - KLRT-TV, More details emerge - KLRT-TV, Police called 15 times in 3 years - KLRT-TV