The defense, however, argued the evidence is speculation and circumstantial. Brodey Murbarger testified that Megans blood was in his car after a sexual encounter, in which he used his shirt to clean the blood. 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. Brodey Murbarger was arrested at his place of employment Wednesday without incident. No further info regarding charges has been released. The court also heard from an FBI DNA expert who confirmed the blood in Murbargers trunk came from Megan Nichols. 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. The first-degree murder trial of Brodey I. Murbarger began this morning with jury selection in Wayne County Circuit Court in Fairfield. Bond has been set at $3 million. For more than three years, state and local police along with the FBI followed up on hundreds of tips. Murbarger had lived in Fairfield, and met Nichols at New Hope School, where he was a senior and she was a sophomore. The manner of death was determined to be homicide. . 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. Bass, the Placentia historian, said city officials balk at taking over the renovation because it will be so expensive. 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. 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. The owners say theyve asked the city for demolition permits in the past, but all those requests were denied. MURBARGER PRE TRIAL 3/19/22 The first-degree murder trial of 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger has been delayed until fall. In Japanese court, Alkonis pleaded guilty to negligent driving. The property is highly problematic now, said Lee, because the owners lost their liability insurance in 1998. Follow 44News on Facebook, or download the free 44News apps on Android or Apple devices. 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 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. Search for Free Cell Phone Deals Without Paying, Datelines digital series Missing in America. According to authorities, prior to her disappearance, Megan withdrew money from a local bank while on her bicycle. UPDATE: Brodey Murbarger found guilty of murdering Megan Nichols in 2014. It had been wiped clean. We have boarded and reboarded that house 15 times in the last two years, Lee said. More than three years later, the skeletal remains of Megan were found in a shallow grave south of . Theres no sense of closure and the families of the victims are left devastated. A body was found - it was tragic, but maybe itll lead to something more. Megan, who was featured in Datelines digital series Missing in America shortly after she vanished, was initially considered a missing person. In July, a fire damaged the propertys garage, according to Placentia police. Parlor Doughnuts hold soft opening for new location on Main St. Man arrested on murder charges in Providence. 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. 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. 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. In March, the landowners had preliminary talks with the Placentia-Yorba Linda Art Assn. The Wayne County Circuit Clerk told us Wednesday that Murbarger's sentencing date was being delayed. Police say Nichols was initially considered a missing person until her remains were found in a rural area in Wayne County, Illinois in 2018. 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. Last November a Wayne County jury found Brodey Murbarger responsible for strangling or smothering Megan Nichols to death. On September 29, a Wayne County Grand Jury indicted Murbarger on six separate charges. 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. 00:56:29 - On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. The Court on Tuesday issued a protective order for Megan Nichols medical records. Multiple agencies in Evansville, Indiana took Brodey Murbarger, 24, into custody Wednesday morning. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Copyright 2022 WFIE. Court then moved outside so jurors could have the chance to see the car themselves. 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. On Friday, Murbarger was sentenced to 50 years in prison for Nichols's murder, according to court officials. Its really hard to process, August said. The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. There was a problem saving your notification. Members of the Kraemer family, for their part, apparently have distanced themselves from the dilapidated house that bears their name. Her family didn't believe she was actually a runaway though and her disappearance was featured in Datelines digital series Missing in America.". Nichols was considered a missing person until her remains were found in a field outside Boyleston, Illinois in 2017. to turn the house into a permanent gallery for local artists. 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. 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. EVANSVILLE, Ind. Lee said that when they bought the property, they believed that the city would let them clear the site and build condominiums. It wasn't until 2017 that Nichols' remains were discovered in a rural area of Wayne County. 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. 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. When youre hanging up a poster with your friends picture on it, thats when its like, Oh, this is real, Holden said. 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 Wayne County Circuit Clerk told us Wednesday that Murbarger's sentencing date was being delayed. 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. [Previous: Im sick,' says woman who discovered Megan Nichols remains]. https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/closing-arguments-wrap-up-in-murbarger-murder-trial-jury-to-deliberate/amp/. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020.. Meanwhile, the abandoned home has been plagued by graffiti, vandalism and arson. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. (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. 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. Murbarger remains in custody in Indiana pending extradition to 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A pre-trial hearing was held yesterday (Tuesday) via Zoom in Wayne County Circuit Court for 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger. Ill update whenever I get more info. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020. 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. He was taken Friday to a jail in Illinois. Brodey Murbarger was arrested for Murder on today's date . Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance and killing of 15-year-old Megan Nichols. 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. The once-elegant 5,872-square-foot house, still flanked by birds-of-paradise bushes, is now a rotting shell. The City Council will consider that option at its Dec. 19 meeting, said Joyce Rosenthal, director of development services for Placentia. 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. Evansville, Indiana Area. His attorney, Christian J. Baril, told Judge Michael Molt and State's Attorney Kevin Kakac the review of discovery materials is going well. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. EVANSVILLE, Ind. I think the Kraemer house has tremendous possibilities, Bass said. Brodey Murbarger was arrested at his place of employment Wednesday without incident. 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. Three are for first degree murder. [Click here to see the indictment documents obtained by 14 News]. While authorities first considered Megan a runaway, according to Dateline, her family didnt agree. 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. I am at work and had a lot of background noise but Im pretty confident that is what I heard. Murbarger then said he placed the shirt in the trunk, where leaking water caused the blood to spread. 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? Brodey Murbarger. Its not just you, Work phones make a comeback as offices ban WhatsApp, TikTok. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was indicted in September by a grand jury. If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Megans death, please contact the FBI at (217) 522-9675. Her cell phone was also left behind and had been wiped clean. On Wednesday, an FBI investigator told the jury about text messages between Murbarger and Nichols which revealed the two were in a sexual relationship. Court documents show Murbarger was indicted on six counts. 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. 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. 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According to NBC News, she was considered a missing person as police said she withdrew money from a bank before her disappearance. I would love to see that house be taken and refurbished and something decent made there.. 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. 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. Lee said the group of owners would like nothing better than to cut ties to the property. An Illinois grand jury issued the indictment for Murbarger in connection with the murder and disappearance of Megan Nichols. Murbarger stated he disposed of the shirt in a ditch. After deliberating for more than an hour, a jury found Brodey Murbarger guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Megan Nichols. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 and is facing a first-degree murder . He was arrested Wednesday without incident and is in jail awaiting extradition back to Illinois. As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. When youre hanging up a poster with your friends picture on it, thats when its like, Oh, this is real, August said. Police say Nichols was initially considered a missing person until her remains were found in a rural area in Wayne County, Illinois in 2018. Sep 2019 - Present3 years 5 months. But the overriding question remains: Who should pay for the renovation? Megan was last seen alive on July 3, 2014, at her . August says Nicholss disappearance took awhile to digest for him and his classmates. Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols this afternoon after approx. (WFIE) - Evansville police say detectives arrested an Evansville man on murder charges in relation to the 2014 disappearance/murder of Megan Nichols. But FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware could not confirm these details to Dateline due to the case being an ongoing investigation. That would allow the developer to build a road and more homes on the site without razing the historical structure. The trial was set to begin May 2 but was delayed during a pretrial hearing on Friday in Wayne County Circuit Court. He was arrested Wednesday without incident and is in jail awaiting extradition back to Illinois. She had left her cell phone behind at the house. WAYNE CO., Ill. (WFIE) - The trial started Monday morning for the man accused in the 2014 murder of Megan Nichols. 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: . In closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors told the jury Murbargers story has changed several times and that the varying stories contradict each other. The city says the owners should. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The FBI, along with many law enforcement organizations, including the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and the Evansville Police Department, continue to investigate Megans case. According to the Navigator Journal, Megan and Brodey Murbarger had previously dated. On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In the meantime, he hasnt done what we think is the proper maintenance on the site.. 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.