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. 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. 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. Brodey Murbarger was arrested at his place of employment Wednesday without incident. (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 chapter still remains unclosed as friends and families continue to wait. The FBI, along with many law enforcement organizations, including the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and the Evansville Police Department, continue to investigate Megans case. 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 first-degree murder trial of Brodey I. Murbarger began this morning with jury selection in Wayne County Circuit Court in Fairfield. 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. They dont want to pay for the property.. The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/closing-arguments-wrap-up-in-murbarger-murder-trial-jury-to-deliberate/. 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. I think the Kraemer house has tremendous possibilities, Bass said. Following a telephone conference on Wednesday in Wayne County Circuit Court, Murbarger's defense attorney requested a continuance until October 3. 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," August said. 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 arrested in connection with Nichols' death in 2020 after she went missing in 2014 at the age of 15. 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. According to the Navigator Journal, Megan and Brodey Murbarger had previously dated. This is a subreddit for those cases of murder that go unsolved for years, even decades. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. A pre-trial hearing was held yesterday (Tuesday) via Zoom in Wayne County Circuit Court for 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger. The city felt that was too crowded.. For more than three years, state and local police along with the FBI followed up on hundreds of tips. 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. 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger appeared in a status hearing via Zoom in Wayne County Circuit Court yesterday morning. 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. Megan was dating an 18-year-old named Brodey Murbarger, and the relationship had caused a rift between Megan and her mother. On Friday, Murbarger was sentenced to 50 years in prison for Nichols's murder, according to court officials. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 and is facing a first-degree murder. Meanwhile, the abandoned home has been plagued by graffiti, vandalism and arson. 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. 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. They paid $2,800 a month for rent. Rosenthal said, however, that the requests were stalled because the city was waiting for acceptable renovation proposals from the owners. Megan was dating an 18-year-old named Brodey Murbarger, an But in February 2014 the messages reflected a more tumultuous relationship, with Murbarger at one point calling Nichols annoying.. 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. Lee said that when they bought the property, they believed that the city would let them clear the site and build condominiums. 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. Nichols was considered a missing person until her remains were found in a field outside Boyleston, Illinois in 2017. Bond has been set at $3 million. While authorities first considered Megan a runaway, according to Dateline, her family didnt agree. All rights reserved. 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 owners say theyve asked the city for demolition permits in the past, but all those requests were denied. After deliberating for more than an hour, a jury found Brodey Murbarger guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Megan Nichols. A body was found - it was tragic, but maybe itll lead to something more. The once-elegant . Her cell phone was also left behind and had been wiped clean. 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. No further details were released. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was arrested Wednesday without incident and is in jail awaiting extradition back to Illinois. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020. 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. But FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware could not confirm these details to Dateline due to the case being an ongoing investigation. 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. One is for concealment of homicidal death, and two are for home invasion. Her biological father was . The house is one of only seven historical homes in the city, according to Donna Bass, chairwoman of Placentias historical committee. As reported in October, Brodey Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols, of Fairfield, Illinois. 4. More than three years later, the skeletal remains of Megan were found in a shallow grave south of . "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. The City Council will consider that option at its Dec. 19 meeting, said Joyce Rosenthal, director of development services for Placentia. [Exclusive: People who found remains in Wayne Co. talk to 14 News]. On Wednesday, an FBI investigator told the jury about text messages between Murbarger and Nichols which. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. We asked the city to condemn the property, but they refused to do that. Through those statements, the state says Murbarger places himself with Nichols on the night and time she disappeared. Three are for first degree murder. (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. 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. 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. The Court on Tuesday issued a protective order for Megan Nichols medical records. This was an on-record portion of the proceedings, meaning defense, prosecution, and jury were there along with the judge and court reporter. FAIRFIELD, Ill (WEHT) Brodey Murbarger, 26, was found guilty of first degree murder on Thursday after the jury deliberated for only an hour. Her whereabouts remained a mystery for three years until human remains were found on December 26, 2017. 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. In the meantime, he hasnt done what we think is the proper maintenance on the site.. (WFIE) - Evansville police say detectives arrested an Evansville man on murder charges in relation to the 2014 disappearance/murder of Megan Nichols. 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. The once-elegant 5,872-square-foot house, still flanked by birds-of-paradise bushes, is now a rotting shell. He apologized to the victims' family and raised $1.6 million for them, according to the New York Times.But the family insisted he . Murbarger was found guilty of the murder of Megan Nichols this afternoon after approx. 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You have permission to edit this article. Nichols was considered a missing person until her remains were found in a field outside Boyleston, Illinois in 2017. 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. Copyright 2022 WFIE. I would love to see that house be taken and refurbished and something decent made there.. The family called police to report her missing at about 1 am July 4, 2014. 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. The plans we submitted before had up to 10 to 14 homes, which was higher density. Murbarger is awaiting trial for the 2014 slaying of 15-year-old Megan Nichols of Fairfield. . Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. You have permission to edit this article. Murbarger was arrested in 2020 while working in Indiana. Murbarger did address Judge Molt, asking for leniency. A month later, they were identified as those of Nichols. UPDATE: Brodey Murbarger found guilty of murdering Megan Nichols in 2014. According to authorities, prior to her disappearance, Megan withdrew money from a local bank while on her bicycle. 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. 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. The City Council has declared the house a public nuisance, and the city Planning Commission voted this month for abatement. UPDATE: Brodey Murbarger found guilty of murdering Megan Nichols in 2014. Then he was going to leave the house and build houses around it. His attorney, Christian J. Baril, told Judge Michael Molt and State's Attorney Kevin Kakac the review of discovery materials is going well. It had been wiped clean. 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. 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. He was taken Friday to a jail in Illinois. 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. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 and is facing a first-degree murder . 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.. A search warrant was also executed at Murbargers home at the Lakewood West apartment complex in Evansville, Indiana. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. In the 10 years that the property has been on the market, Lee said, there have been no offers. In closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors told the jury Murbargers story has changed several times and that the varying stories contradict each other. Friends say . Family members could not be reached for comment. (Vanderburgh Co. Court documents show Murbarger was indicted on six counts. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She had left her cell phone behind at the house. 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. EVANSVILLE, Ind. Link has been updated, guilty verdict returned. He said he then placed the shirt in the trunk, where leaking water caused the blood to spread. 00:56:29 - On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. 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. A 24 year old is not a former bf. 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: . Quality Control Laboratory Technician. There was a problem saving your notification. Call or Email Renovari Counseling for a free phone consultation now - (714) 248-0598. Jail) [Previous: 'I'm sick,' says woman who discovered Megan Nichols'. 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. I had never had someone that I was close to that had died and, you know, that was traumatic," August said. The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. What happens when the murderer doesnt get caught? Follow 44News on Facebook, or download the free 44News apps on Android or Apple devices. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Murbarger remains in custody in Indiana pending extradition to Illinois. During the more than two-week trial, jurors heard testimony from multiple witnesses some of them surprising. Opinion: How has American healthcare gone so wrong? Parlor Doughnuts hold soft opening for new location on Main St. Man arrested on murder charges in Providence. The owners then tried to sell the house in 1990 but couldnt get anywhere close to the price they paid, Lee said. If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Megan Nichols death, please contact the FBI at (217) 522-9675. 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. Local radio news at noon stated that the Grand Jury indictments cant yet be released. As we previously reported, Brodey Murbarger, the man found guilty of murdering Fairfield teen Megan Nichols, was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday afternoon. Brodey Murbarger. Police say Nichols was initially considered a missing person until her remains were found in a rural area in Wayne County, Illinois in 2018. Brodey Murbarger was arrested for Murder on today's date . Copyright 2020 WFIE. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. To a 15 year old. Hes accused of strangling and suffocating Nichols and burying her in a shallow grave. They also reminded jurors that Murbarger told others hed gone to Megans Fairfield home around 9:30 p.m. July 3, 2014 the night she disappeared. 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 set for trial September 19 for the slaying of 15-year-old Megan Nichols of Fairfield.
