The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. I had never had someone that I was close to that had died and, you know, that was traumatic," August said. MURBARGER PRE TRIAL 3/19/22 The first-degree murder trial of 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger has been delayed until fall. Its one of those things where you kind of always knew it was him," Hold told WFIE. In March, the landowners had preliminary talks with the Placentia-Yorba Linda Art Assn. Murbarger was arrested in connection with Nichols' death in 2020 after she went missing in 2014 at the age of 15. Some murders are so shocking and evil that they capture the mind of the general public and it wont let go until a killer is brought to justice. Its been six dark years for Nicholss family and friends, whose questions were left unanswered. On Wednesday, an FBI investigator told the jury about text messages between Murbarger and Nichols which revealed the two were in a sexual relationship. Jayson Murbarger testified the trunk on his sons car often leaked water, but he was unaware of any other fluids that may be in the trunk. Brodey Murbarger was arrested at his place of employment Wednesday without incident. 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: . According to NBC News, she was considered a missing person as police said she withdrew money from a bank before her disappearance. FAIRFIELD, Ill (WEHT) Brodey Murbarger, 26, was found guilty of first degree murder on Thursday after the jury deliberated for only an hour. 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. [Previous: Im sick,' says woman who discovered Megan Nichols remains]. An Evansville, Indiana man is facing charges in the disappearance and murder of teenager Megan Nichols in 2014. Now the price tag for renovation has reached $300,000. Holden August, a friend of Nichols, heard the news on Wednesday morning. Nichols, 15 was reported missing from her Fairfield, Illinois home in the early morning hours of July 3, 2014. Lee said that when they bought the property, they believed that the city would let them clear the site and build condominiums. The owners say the city should, particularly if officials are so set on preserving the home. 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. Murbarger. 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. 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. 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. 4. 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. Built in 1918, the house now waits in a state of dire disrepair on its 1.5-acre Angelina Avenue lot while its owners and city officials wrangle over the next turn in its fortunes. If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Megan Nichols death, please contact the FBI at (217) 522-9675. Megan was last seen alive on July 3, 2014, at her . to turn the house into a permanent gallery for local artists. Family members could not be reached for comment. 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. She also left a note saying she loved her mother, but would never be happy at home. The once-elegant 5,872-square-foot house, still flanked by birds-of-paradise bushes, is now a rotting shell. Police say Nichols was initially considered a missing person until her remains were found in a rural area in Wayne County, Illinois in 2018. As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. Bond has been set at $3 million. This was an on-record portion of the proceedings, meaning defense, prosecution, and jury were there along with the judge and court reporter. One month later, on January 26, 2018, authorities positively identified the remains as belonging to Megan. 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. It wasn't until 2017 that Nichols' remains were discovered in a rural area of Wayne County. They paid $2,800 a month for rent. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, of Evansville, Indiana, was taken into custody outside his place of employment and transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail, according to a press release issued by. According to the clerk, Murbarger will now be sentenced on Friday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. RC Beverage Company. Evansville, Indiana Area. As we previously reported, Brodey Murbarger, the man found guilty of murdering Fairfield teen Megan Nichols, was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday afternoon. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. WAYNE CO., Ill. (WFIE) - The trial started Monday morning for the man accused in the 2014 murder of Megan Nichols. An Evansville, Indiana man is facing charges in the disappearance and murder of teenager Megan Nichols in 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. He was taken Friday to a jail in Illinois. According to Lee, the owners have lost a substantial amount of money on the property, which cost $750,000 in 1988. Lee said the group of owners would like nothing better than to cut ties to the property. This is a subreddit for those cases of murder that go unsolved for years, even decades. Her family didn't believe she was actually a runaway though and her disappearance was featured in Datelines digital series Missing in America.". A search warrant was also executed at Murbargers home at the Lakewood West apartment complex in Evansville, Indiana. In the meantime, he hasnt done what we think is the proper maintenance on the site.. According to court documents, Murbarger was indicted on three counts of first degree murder, one count of concealment of homicidal death and two counts of home invasion. All rights reserved. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. According to the Navigator Journal, Megan and Brodey Murbarger had previously dated. As we previously reported, Brodey Murbarger, the man found guilty of murdering Fairfield teen Megan Nichols, was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday afternoon. Call or Email Renovari Counseling for a free phone consultation now - (714) 248-0598. A month later, they were identified as those of Nichols. Link has been updated, guilty verdict returned. 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. 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. While authorities first considered Megan a runaway, according to Dateline, her family didnt agree. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. Updated: Oct 13, 2022 / 04:08 PM CDT FAIRFIELD, Ill (WEHT) - Brodey Murbarger, 26, was found guilty of first degree murder on Thursday after the jury deliberated for only an hour. There are many other important things that need to be taken care of financially in Placentia, she said. Brodey Murbarger has been sentenced to prison for the murder of Fairfield, Illinois teen Megan Nichols. 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. We asked the city to condemn the property, but they refused to do that. The city says the owners should. 00:56:29 - On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. When youre hanging up a poster with your friends picture on it, thats when its like, Oh, this is real, Holden said. But the city balked because of the homes historical significance, he said. No further details were released. On September 29, a Wayne County Grand Jury indicted Murbarger on six separate charges. If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Megans death, please contact the FBI at (217) 522-9675. Nichols, 15 was reported missing from her Fairfield, Illinois home in the early morning hours of July 3, 2014. Murbarger remains in custody in Indiana pending extradition to Illinois. Brodey Murbarger was arrested for Murder on today's date . EVANSVILLE, Ind. Meanwhile, the abandoned home has been plagued by graffiti, vandalism and arson. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was indicted in September by a grand jury. Then he was going to leave the house and build houses around it. Police say Nichols was initially considered a missing person until her remains were found in a rural area in Wayne County, Illinois in 2018. There was a problem saving your notification. But in February 2014 the messages reflected a more tumultuous relationship, with Murbarger at one point calling Nichols annoying.. In count three, Murbarger is accused of intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Megan Nichols by manner and means to the Grand Jury unknown, causing the death of Megan Nichols. In Count four, the Concealment of a Homicidal Death alleges that Murbarger knowingly concealed the death of Megan Nichols by causing her body to be buried in a shallow grave in a remote area of Wayne County. The act allegedly occurred on or between July 3, 2014 and December 26, 2017. In counts 5 and 6, Murbarger is accused of Home Invasion in that he allegedly committed a Criminal Sexual Abuse against Megan P. Nichols in that said defendant committed an an act of sexual conduct or sexual penetration with Megan P. Nichols, who was at least 13 years of age but under 17 years of age and the defendant was less than 5 years older than Megan P. Nichols. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. You have permission to edit this article. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was indicted in September by a grand jury. Megan was dating an 18-year-old named Brodey Murbarger, and the relationship had caused a rift between Megan and her mother. On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. The documents show hes accused of strangling and suffocating Megan and burying her in a shallow grave. The family, according to Lee and Bass, is not interested in paying to restore the home. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, of Evansville, Indiana, was taken into custody outside his place of employment and transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail, according to a press release issued by the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office this week. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. The once-elegant . The family called police to report her missing at about 1 am July 4, 2014. A pre-trial hearing was held yesterday (Tuesday) via Zoom in Wayne County Circuit Court for 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger. 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. The trial was set to begin May 2 but was delayed during a pretrial hearing on Friday in Wayne County Circuit Court. Megan was initially considered a missing person until her remains were located in a rural area in Wayne County Illinois in 2018. The manner of death was determined to be homicide. Follow 44News on Facebook, or download the free 44News apps on Android or Apple devices. Copyright 2020 WFIE. 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. 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. 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. 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. But the overriding question remains: Who should pay for the renovation? Also, Im no expert so I dont understand the multiple counts of murder and dont want to speculate. I would love to see that house be taken and refurbished and something decent made there.. The radio station hasnt updated their transcripts yet since this morning. Following a telephone conference on Wednesday in Wayne County Circuit Court, Murbarger's defense attorney requested a continuance until October 3. Its one of those things where you kind of always knew it was him," August said. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 and is facing a first-degree murder . 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. https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/closing-arguments-wrap-up-in-murbarger-murder-trial-jury-to-deliberate/amp/. To a 15 year old. I think the Kraemer house has tremendous possibilities, Bass said. The plans we submitted before had up to 10 to 14 homes, which was higher density. Parlor Doughnuts hold soft opening for new location on Main St. Man arrested on murder charges in Providence. https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/closing-arguments-wrap-up-in-murbarger-murder-trial-jury-to-deliberate/. Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance and killing of 15-year-old Megan Nichols. 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 property is highly problematic now, said Lee, because the owners lost their liability insurance in 1998. I dont want to get too excited," August said. At first, he wanted to take down the house, Rosenthal said. But FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware could not confirm these details to Dateline due to the case being an ongoing investigation. Its really hard to process, August said. 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 Court on Tuesday issued a protective order for Megan Nichols medical records. The City Council has declared the house a public nuisance, and the city Planning Commission voted this month for abatement. What happens when the murderer doesnt get caught? (WFIE) - Evansville police say detectives arrested an Evansville man on murder charges in relation to the 2014 disappearance/murder of Megan Nichols. 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. Hes accused of strangling and suffocating Nichols and burying her in a shallow grave. We have boarded and reboarded that house 15 times in the last two years, Lee said. Murbarger had lived in Fairfield, and met Nichols at New Hope School, where he was a senior and she was a sophomore. Brodey Murbarger has been sentenced to prison for the murder of Fairfield, Illinois teen Megan Nichols. 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. Quality Control Laboratory Technician. 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. Three are for first degree murder. Copyright 2022 WFIE. Then in December of 2017, remains were found in a rural area in 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. Nichols was considered a missing person until her remains were found in a field outside Boyleston, Illinois in 2017. (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. I am at work and had a lot of background noise but Im pretty confident that is what I heard. Her cell phone was also left behind and had been wiped clean. In Japanese court, Alkonis pleaded guilty to negligent driving. The Wayne County Circuit Clerk told us Wednesday that Murbarger's sentencing date was being delayed. The remains were found in a rural location in Wayne County, Illinois, FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware previously told Dateline. Edited spelling and corrected charges as of 2:00 PM. [Exclusive: People who found remains in Wayne Co. talk to 14 News]. Brodey Murbarger. On Friday, Murbarger was sentenced to 50 years in prison for Nichols's murder, according to court officials. The owners say theyve asked the city for demolition permits in the past, but all those requests were denied. 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. However, theres a bit of relief now that an arrest has been made. (Vanderburgh Co. Judge Michael Molt handed down the sentence at the conclusion of a two hour hearing before a packed Wayne County courtroom. More than three years later, the skeletal remains of Megan were found in a shallow grave south of . As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. A 24 year old is not a former bf. 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. 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. No further info regarding charges has been released. During the more than two-week trial, jurors heard testimony from multiple witnesses some of them surprising. The house has slid from being a city jewel to a prominent eyesore. Nichols was considered a missing person until her remains were found in a field outside Boyleston, Illinois in 2017. He was arrested Wednesday without incident and is in jail awaiting extradition back to Illinois. Her whereabouts remained a mystery for three years until human remains were found on December 26, 2017. 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger appeared in a status hearing via Zoom in Wayne County Circuit Court yesterday morning. 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. We're continuing to follow the outcome out of a murder trial that's happening in Wayne County, Illinois. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020. At the time of Megan's disappearance, Brodey lived in Fairfield and had allegedly been dating the victim. The investigator also testified the two were planning to runaway together five months prior to Nichols disappearance. One is for concealment of homicidal death, and two are for home invasion. Search for Free Cell Phone Deals Without Paying, Datelines digital series Missing in America. 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. It had been wiped clean. 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. Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance and killing of 15-year-old Megan Nichols. According to authorities, prior to her disappearance, Megan withdrew money from a local bank while on her bicycle. The stain tested positive in the field for blood. He said he then placed the shirt in the trunk, where leaking water caused the blood to spread. 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. Friends say . Jail) [Previous: 'I'm sick,' says woman who discovered Megan Nichols'. 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. 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. On 09-25-2020 an Illinois grand jury issued an indictment for Brodey Murbarger (11-27-95) in reference to the 2014 disappearance/murder of Megan Nichols. 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. Further, a search warrant for his home was issued. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. EVANSVILLE, Ind. 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. Murbarger was taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail, but he is no longer an inmate. Hes remained in the Wayne County Jail since that time with bond set at $300,000 cash. . 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. 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. 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. We will continue to provide updates on the case. 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. 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. A farmer found the remains three years after the 15-year-old girl was reported missing. There were a few cryptic clues left behind at the home, one was Megan's cell phone which had been completely wiped. Court then moved outside so jurors could have the chance to see the car themselves. His attorney, Christian J. Baril, told Judge Michael Molt and State's Attorney Kevin Kakac the review of discovery materials is going well. 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. The FBI, along with many law enforcement organizations, including the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and the Evansville Police Department, continue to investigate Megans case.