Teenager and Grandparents Found Dead In Missouri Home: [Archive]

Kathee

06-09-2009, 08:26 PM

Benton County, Missouri authorities and investigators with the Missouri Highway Patrol are in the early stages of a death investigation in Cole Camp.

Authorities say that a neighbor called police about 11:30 a.m. today (06-09-09) when she became concerened that she had not seen or heard from her neighbor's in a couple of days.

Sources say the dead are, 15 year-old Taron Dion Luetjen, whose mother lives in Buffalo. Taron was found dead near her grandparents, Donnie and Sharon Luetjen, who had custody of the teen and who had recently come into a substantial amount of money.

Authorities believe the Luetjen's may have been killed on Sunday or Monday.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/happening-now-benton-county-authorities.html

SuziQ

06-09-2009, 09:22 PM

So who would inherit the money?

This sounds like an execution.

http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-triple-homicide-cole-camp-6909,0,1774067.story

(snip)
Luetjen was found dead at her grandparents' side. Donnie and Sharon Luetjen had custody of the teen. Her father died when she was just one-month-old.

The girl's aunt said her sister, the girl's mother, was at work at the time of the murders. The mother lives in Buffalo, Missouri.

SuziQ

06-09-2009, 09:29 PM

I won't post the links at the moment, but a quick google reveals the grandparents lost an aunt and stepfather in the past couple of month's.

Beyond Belief

06-09-2009, 09:39 PM

i wonder if this sum of money was inherited or from some sort of a lawsuit. at age 15 that would an odd age to be getting a large sum of money its usually held in trust until the minor reaches 18.

SuziQ

06-09-2009, 09:56 PM

i wonder if this sum of money was inherited or from some sort of a lawsuit. at age 15 that would an odd age to be getting a large sum of money its usually held in trust until the minor reaches 18.

At first I read that the way you did. But it appears to read they had custody of the teen and had inherited a large sum of money. I could be wrong though.

Taron was found dead near her grandparents, Donnie and Sharon Luetjen, who had custody of the teen and who had recently come into a substantial amount of money.

SuziQ

06-10-2009, 10:20 AM

http://www.kctv5.com/news/19708356/detail.html

(snip)
Meyer said investigators haven't released details about how the teen and her grandparents died, but said investigators reported "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the deaths.

Sources have told KCTV5 News that the three were bound and shot.

SuziQ

06-10-2009, 10:26 AM

From Googling I've found this family was very involved in their church and community. Their grandaughter was a talented singer involved with choirs and competed in contests. She also received many academic awards. They definitely did not live a high risk lifestyle. LE states they probably died on Sunday or Monday. I wonder if they were at church Sunday. Surely someone would have missed them if they weren't.

oceanblueeyes

06-10-2009, 10:39 AM

I say follow the money trail.

Who would benefit the most by having these three people dead.

imo

KaylynnCouture

06-10-2009, 10:49 AM

So sad :(

I wonder why the mother didn't have custody.

waltzingmatilda

06-10-2009, 11:04 AM

It sounds as if these grandparent's were paternal, no? It's likely Taron stood to inherit money in the case of their demise.

Where is the mom? Would she now be considered Taron's next of kin? What type of relationship was there between mother and daughter? Hmmmm!

So few answers at this point. This is shocking and sad!

gaia227

06-10-2009, 11:35 AM

Thanks for posting Kathee! Being from Missouri I am always interested in cases in the area.
My first thought was a murder/suicide but that changed when SuziQ posted they were bound.

I read in the comments of one of the articles that Taron's mother had not been in contact with her daughter for about 10 years.

Kathee

06-10-2009, 12:32 PM

The suspicious death investigation that began yesterday in Benton County, Missouri has now turned into a triple homicide investigation.

When cops entered the residence about 5:15 they discovered 15 year-old Taron Luetjen (b.), and her grandparents Sharon Luetjen, 61, and Donnie Luetjen, 64, bound and lined up next to each other.....shot.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/suspicious-death-investigation-turns.html

colette

06-10-2009, 12:36 PM

OBE, "Follow the money" sounds reasonable in this case. If the mother hasn't seen the girl in 10 years, she isn't bonded to her. She was at work during the murders, but there are ways to pay someone to do murder or a "significant other " who could do a crime and share in the benefits of inheritance. Opinion only.. the mother may be a total innocent person.

Kathee

06-10-2009, 12:44 PM

colette

06-10-2009, 12:48 PM

I was thinking that the girl was raised by maternal grandparents but her father died when she was an infant and she was raised by his parents. Her mother most likely had nothing to do with this. Still follow the money. These murders were so coldblooded... to line them up and shoot them was just heartless. Someone needed for them to be dead, most likely for money.

colette

06-10-2009, 12:53 PM

Here's my take on the "mother was at work at the time the murders took place."

How does the aunt know when the murders occured, especially if they happened on Sunday or Monday and they weren't found until yesterday?

Just my reporter mind workin'.

I know what you mean, I was wondering that too after I read the crimes might have been on Sunday or Monday. Maybe the Aunt thought the murders took place on Monday when she made that statement. But It does make me wonder why she said that at all...it makes her sister look guilty when someone feels the need to give her an alibi.

SuziQ

06-10-2009, 12:57 PM

I don't understand why it took five hours to get a search warrant. I would think three dead bodies would be a priority and all the probably cause you need.

MissieMt

06-10-2009, 01:14 PM

I think they got the warrant first, then discovered the bodies
When police arrived at the crime scene on Elm Street they say "suspicious circumstances" prompted them ask the court for a search warrant (http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/happening-now-benton-county-authorities.html)for the property. That warrant was granted about 5:00 yesterday evening.

When cops entered the residence about 5:15 they discovered 15 year-old Taron Luetjen (b.), and her grandparents Sharon Luetjen, 61, and Donnie Luetjen, 64, bound and lined up next to each other.....shot.

MissieMt

06-10-2009, 01:17 PM

SuziQ

06-10-2009, 02:28 PM

Murdered Teen's Mother: "I'm Assuming She Knew I Loved Her"

http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-tarons-mother-speaks-cole-camp-61009,0,3870205.story

Kathee

06-10-2009, 02:38 PM

My theory on the Aunt knowing approx. when the murders occurred is that she was told by LE. Keep in mind that the writer isn't going to put in the story that they asked her where her sister was at the time that the family was murdered.

I updated the blog after I talked to Taron's mother and asked her where she was on Sunday, Monday and yesterday.

Taron's mother, Debra Kost, 36, lives in Buffalo, Missouri, and says that she was at work at Carl's Package Store at the time the murders took place. "I was there on Sunday, Monday and yesterday," adding, "all they have to do is look at the camera's."

FYI.....she has seven other children who range in age from 17 to 2 that she has custody of. Kost says that know one has notified her or any of her family members of her daughters death even after repeated phone calls to law enforcers.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/suspicious-death-investigation-turns.html

gaia227

06-10-2009, 02:41 PM

Kathee

06-10-2009, 02:55 PM

I don't care what this woman says - the courts don't just turn over custody to someone other than the mother for no real good reason.

Let me guess (excuse my cyncism) - she has 7 other children with like 4 different dads, right?

Pretty much. She told me she just didn't have the money to fight the grandparent's for custody.

I know, but that's her statement.

KaylynnCouture

06-10-2009, 03:05 PM

Pretty much. She told me she just didn't have the money to fight the grandparent's for custody.

I know, but that's her statement.

The issue here, to me, is the fact that she lost custody in the first place. There obviously was a reason she doesn't have custody..regardless of what she says.

Kathee

06-10-2009, 06:21 PM

News conference scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow.

audiogirl

06-10-2009, 06:42 PM

The issue here, to me, is the fact that she lost custody in the first place. There obviously was a reason she doesn't have custody..regardless of what she says.

I am not defending the mother in any way but, I can tell you that some mothers have lost custody of their children through lies, manipulation and mistrust. Believe me, I have witnessed it first hand.

As for the custody issue, I truly believe it has no bearing on this tragic incident.

MOO

oceanblueeyes

06-10-2009, 11:41 PM

Did the grandparents have any siblings?

tia

Traybone74

06-11-2009, 06:26 AM

SuziQ

06-11-2009, 09:32 AM

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Details-to-Come-in-Cole-Camp-Triple-Murder/xobGsqTevUyQbySFTlFg6g.cspx

(snips)
A 10 a.m. press conference is scheduled for this morning to release more information about the murders of a teenage girl and her grandparents.

NBC Action News Reporter Lindsay Shively will be at the press conference, to be held in a park across the street from the Luetjen home, and will have the latest details today on NBC Action News Midday at 11 a.m.

SuziQ

06-11-2009, 11:47 AM

Investigators Call for Help in Cole Camp Triple Murder

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Investigators-Call-for-Help-in-Cole-Camp-Triple/xobGsqTevUyQbySFTlFg6g.cspx

KaylynnCouture

06-11-2009, 12:06 PM

Investigators Call for Help in Cole Camp Triple Murder

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Investigators-Call-for-Help-in-Cole-Camp-Triple/xobGsqTevUyQbySFTlFg6g.cspx

Thanks for the update since the press conference, Suzi.

I watched the video with the Cole Camp Police Chief (from the link) and it really doesn't seem like they're willing to release much information. I just hope they have some good leads so that this family can get some justice.

KaylynnCouture

06-11-2009, 12:09 PM

Was it a family friend that discovered the bodies?? I thought it was LE.

When Taron didn't show up for her driver's education class on Monday and Tuesday, the school called a family friend to go check on her. It was this friend who discovered the bodies.

http://www.kctv5.com/news/19718626/detail.html

nursebeeme

06-11-2009, 12:10 PM

I really liked the sheriff... thanks for posting the updates, (((((Q)))))

Kathee

06-11-2009, 12:19 PM

The three people that were found dead inside a Cole Camp house on Tuesday were each shot one time according to Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Scott Meyer.

Cole Camp is a tiny town.....they have NEVER had a murder in the town according to the police department.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/cause-of-death-released-in-cole-camp.html

Bobbisangel

06-11-2009, 12:22 PM

MissieMt

06-11-2009, 12:42 PM

If these murders were for money I doubt it will take long to figure out who was behind them. I'm praying this is the case because I would hate to see this go cold.

Bobbisangel

06-11-2009, 01:13 PM

I updated the blog after I talked to Taron's mother and asked her where she was on Sunday, Monday and yesterday.

Taron's mother, Debra Kost, 36, lives in Buffalo, Missouri, and says that she was at work at Carl's Package Store at the time the murders took place. "I was there on Sunday, Monday and yesterday," adding, "all they have to do is look at the camera's."

FYI.....she has seven other children who range in age from 17 to 2 that she has custody of. Kost says that know one has notified her or any of her family members of her daughters death even after repeated phone calls to law enforcers.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/suspicious-death-investigation-turns.html

It is my understanding that Debra Kost is not legally this girl's mother as the grandparents adopted her years ago. That is why LE is not contacting her and why they won't be contacting her according to them. So the grandparents are legally the parents.

Bobbisangel

06-11-2009, 01:18 PM

I updated the blog after I talked to Taron's mother and asked her where she was on Sunday, Monday and yesterday.

Taron's mother, Debra Kost, 36, lives in Buffalo, Missouri, and says that she was at work at Carl's Package Store at the time the murders took place. "I was there on Sunday, Monday and yesterday," adding, "all they have to do is look at the camera's."

FYI.....she has seven other children who range in age from 17 to 2 that she has custody of. Kost says that know one has notified her or any of her family members of her daughters death even after repeated phone calls to law enforcers.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/suspicious-death-investigation-turns.html

You called the bio mother and asked her where she was at the time of the murders??????? Isn't that crossing a boundry as we aren't detectives we are only people interested in cases presented here?

milopedes

06-11-2009, 01:24 PM

I believe it was the grandparents who inherited the money according to the paper.

I think, if you are considering the financial angle as the motive for the crime, this pretty much rules out the estranged, biological mother as a suspect. I mean, if the grandparents took custody via legal means - regardless of the reason - then she is no closer to getting their money than you or I would be at this point.

And even if you are looking at this from the aspect of revenge, for taking her daughter, I don't think that works too well either. For one, my guess is that she could not afford to pay for a "hit" considering she has 7 other kids and never had money to pay for an attorney for custody.

Just my 2 cents.

milopedes

06-11-2009, 01:25 PM

You called the bio mother and asked her where she was at the time of the murders??????? Isn't that crossing a boundry as we aren't detectives we are only people interested in cases presented here?

Yeah, so what? If she lives in the area and knows the family what does it matter. I'm sure that other people locally have talked to the biological mother as well.

Sure, we are not detectives. But we don't live in a bubble.

milopedes

06-11-2009, 01:30 PM

When cops entered the residence about 5:15 they discovered 15 year-old Taron Luetjen (b.), and her grandparents Sharon Luetjen, 61, and Donnie Luetjen, 64, bound and lined up next to each other.....shot.

I'm not saying it is impossible, but it struck me that each was bound before shot. Maybe two people involved? Or then again, maybe the suspect held the gun while one person bound two of the victims, then he bound the third.

Why bind the hands? If you are there to kill, just do it and leave. Was there torture? Or, maybe once the victims were bound the perp hung around for a "conversation" (i.e., attempt to convince them to give money, etc.).

Binding, to me, implies that the perp was around for awhile before the victim's were killed.

jnTexas

06-11-2009, 01:32 PM

I'm betting Grandma and Grandpa have another son...

milopedes

06-11-2009, 01:35 PM

I'm betting Grandma and Grandpa have another son...

Go on, I'd like to hear your theory.

I don't know about a son, but I think they had a daughter. In one of the links posted an aunt was interviewed . . . and I don't think they were talking about the biological mother's sister.

jnTexas

06-11-2009, 01:42 PM

Go on, I'd like to hear your theory.

I don't know about a son, but I think they had a daughter. In one of the links posted an aunt was interviewed . . . and I don't think they were talking about the biological mother's sister.

If they had a son or a daughter they would stand to inherit the money. With the 15 yr old out of the way they would not have to share the inhertiance.

It is going to be someone close unless they are like some older people and keep the money in their home. then it could be anyone that heard about the money. Which is alos a good possibility since they were bound. Maybe the perp was trying to get the location of the cash out of them.

milopedes

06-11-2009, 01:52 PM

If they had a son or a daughter they would stand to inherit the money. With the 15 yr old out of the way they would not have to share the inhertiance.

It is going to be someone close unless they are like some older people and keep the money in their home. then it could be anyone that heard about the money. Which is alos a good possibility since they were bound. Maybe the perp was trying to get the location of the cash out of them.

I believe your first thought is what most of us were thinking from the get-go, I was more curious why you felt it was a son rather than a daughter who may have convinced her husband or boyfriend to commit the crime.

As for the second paragraph you wrote, this could very well be true on many levels. When my uncle died he had all his money in a shoebox underneath his bed. Granted, he was old enough to have lived through the Great Depression. So maybe they kept their money in the house since they were older, and with all the recent bank failures, maybe they also didn't trust placing a large sum (we don't know the amount) in a bank?

Then again, it is just as plausible that a relative committing the crime for money would bind the victim's hands in an effort to throw off the authorities.

I just can't help but think that there isn't any more obvious motive than a trail of money. And when I ask myself, "Can anyone really be that stupid?"; invariably, the answer always turns out to be a resounding "yes". So sad.

gaia227

06-11-2009, 02:16 PM

Cole Camp is a teeny town isnt it Kathee? I remember stopping there for a few supplies on the way to my friends lakelot. I hope LE has the resources needed to investigate this fully.

On a side note pertaining to post #6, I personally can't stand KCTV 5 news. They border on sensationalism to get ratings IMO. I used to live in Independence and they had a big feud with our police dept.

Most Missouri small towns are close nit communities, I def. would look outside of Cole Camp.

The way they were killed, IMO points to money. I'm sure you understand why I am saying that.. I just can't find a way to express nicely why I don't think it was random. Makes me sick to my stomach.

Cole Camp is tiny - population less than 2,000. The closet bigger city would be Sedalia. It is also not too far from Columbia where the Univ. of MO is.

I think it is interesting they were tied up before being shot. If it was someone they knew - that person would have been invited in and they would have had the element of surprise when they opened fire. If it wasn't someone they knew then it makes more sense to me that the killer bound them first although I still don't see why it was necessary if the motive was to execute them. If the motive was burglary and the killer thought for some reason there was money on the premise they could have bound them to get information out of them. If you go into a house with two elderly people and a teenager with a gun with the intent to kill them I just don't see the point in tying them up before shooting them but maybe that is the killer's way of feeling like they had control. Unfortunately, most people will comply with what the killer says and not try to escape or fight back in hopes they will be spared.

At first I thought it was someone close to the family but the more I think about the fact they were bound makes me think it wasn't someone they knew at all or it was an acquaintenance or someone (unprofessional) hired them to kill these people for inheritance.

gaia227

06-11-2009, 02:21 PM

Hi - I am guilty this time of not reading the comments before I posted. I see that you guys have also been discussing the fact they were bound and what significance that has. Great minds think alike, eh?

Kathee

06-11-2009, 03:32 PM

PoorPaulaNNJ

06-11-2009, 03:34 PM

Megs

06-11-2009, 03:47 PM

The bio mom has long record of arrests for bad checks. If you put in quotes "case net" on Google, you'll get the search site for Missouri records. Use her last name of Luetjen and Debra for first name.

So, is that bio mom, or the Luetjen's daughter, Debbie? If it is their daughter, that would be a huge motive.......

PoorPaulaNNJ

06-11-2009, 03:55 PM

So, is that bio mom, or the Luetjen's daughter, Debbie? If it is their daughter, that would be a huge motive.......

It's the Bio mom. She's Debra Lynn, and the daughter is Debbie with married last name Armenta.

Soulmagent

06-11-2009, 04:22 PM

I don't care what this woman says - the courts don't just turn over custody to someone other than the mother for no real good reason.

Let me guess (excuse my cyncism) - she has 7 other children with like 4 different dads, right?

Actualy the courts do turn custody over for no real good reason, could of been something as simple as the mom worked full time and the grandparent could be home all day ,or the kids school would remain the same or someone has an unemotional lawyer verses and emotional mother defending herself after having lost her husband in car accident . Remember not all mothers who dont have custody of their kids are bad moms ,that isnt even what it is supposed to be about it is about the best interest of the child,which to the court could mean a great number of things.

SuziQ

06-11-2009, 07:17 PM

Lindadanette

06-11-2009, 09:38 PM

Hi folks! There are at least a couple of Luetjen boys on Case Net that have drug arrest records who live in or around the area of the murders.

jnTexas

06-11-2009, 11:21 PM

Hi folks! There are at least a couple of Luetjen boys on Case Net that have drug arrest records who live in or around the area of the murders.

that is exactly what I'm afraid of

Kathee

06-12-2009, 03:08 PM

Funeral services for three Benton County residents found murdered in their home on Tuesday have been announced.

The service for Donnie and Sharon Luetjen and their granddaughter, Taron, will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, 2009, at the Cole Camp R-1 Gynmasium with visitation to follow.

SuziQ

06-14-2009, 11:36 AM

Luetjen Family Releases Statement

http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/ba8a4513-c0a8-2f11-0063-9bd94c70b769/dcac9f25-80ce-0971-0021-6f11bb498bd4

Also from the same link:

Armenta is the only remaining child of 64-year-old Donnie and 61-year-old Sharon Luetgen, two of the victims found dead in their home Tuesday. The other was 15-year-old granddaughter Taron. Each suffered a single gunshot wound.

SuziQ

06-14-2009, 11:39 AM

What press negativity has been out there? I think the press has been very thoughtful regarding this family. Did I miss something? Is she protesting too much?

http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/ba8a4513-c0a8-2f11-0063-9bd94c70b769/dcac9f25-80ce-0971-0021-6f11bb498bd4

(snip)
We understand the media and press has a job to do and we respect that aspect. Were also greatly disappointed in the trash and negativity that has been portrayed and promoted by the media relating to this tragedy. This negativity is a majority of the reason why we have declined to respond to requests for statements and pictures in the past few days. Some agencies have been doing their homework, while others have been taking the easy way out in the name of investigative reporting. In a few days, we may decide to get into more details, but that is still undetermined at this point. This is not the time or the place.

SuziQ

06-14-2009, 11:49 AM

Maybe the trash and negativity is referring to article's like the one below. I wish we knew if anything was missing from the home. The artifacts market is a small world. If someone stole them to resell on the market, I think it would stand out.

http://www.kspr.com/news/local/47964541.html

(snips)
“Whether it's a family dispute or robbery, we'll have to wait ‘til the police tell us,” explains Long-time Cole Camp resident EL Eickhoff.

But the police have not told us much.

Eickhoff recalls, “I do know he had a lot of valuable things in his home."

Friends and neighbors have a bit more to tell.

They say Donnie Luetjen had an Indian artifact collection possibly worth a million dollars in his home.

They also say the Luetjens legally adopted their teenage granddaughter Taron years ago, but there was still tension over the custody issue.

Police ask Cole Camp to come forward with that information and any more on the Luetjens' whereabouts before their death.

SuziQ

06-14-2009, 11:54 AM

Sounds like Saturday night was the last sighting of the Luetjens.

http://www.kspr.com/news/local/47876137.html

(snip)
There’s a good chance a large portion of the town ran into the Luetjens days, possibly just hours, before their deaths.

Downtown Cole Camp was the scene of a community-wide car show Saturday night.

That’s where Andersen ran into the Luetjens.

It's those little details police say may very well help resolve this case.

“If you have that information please come forward, come talk to us, no matter how insignificant you think your information may be,” explains Johnson County Sheriff Chuck Heiss.

Police are not saying whether anything, such as Donnie Luetjen's valuable Indian arrowhead collection, are missing from the home.

SuziQ

06-14-2009, 12:02 PM

If robbery was the motive, then why not do this while they were away from their home? They seem like they were very social people who were away from home alot.

Why kill them execution style?

KaylynnCouture

06-14-2009, 12:05 PM

If robbery was the motive, then why not do this while they were away from their home? They seem like they were very social people who were away from home alot.

Why kill them execution style?

Yep, I don't understand that either. I don't think it was a robbery motive. I really think this is going to be about that large amount of money they were getting ready to inherit, and who would be next in line to get it if they were killed.

SuziQ

06-15-2009, 01:44 AM

Indian Artifacts Connection?

I’ve been following three cases total this week that two of which have an Indian artifact connection. Donnie Luetjen was a well known collector with a rumored collection valued at 1 Million. With the aid of a “Source”, the Feds made a huge stolen artifacts bust this week in Southern Utah. This investigation was done with the help of a “Source” who wore a wire etc for two years. It’s occurred to me that Donnie may have been that source or somehow involved in these recent events. That could be the motive IMO. The third case is a mysterious box of bones that turned up in a field in Springville, Utah. The bones may be those of an illegally excavated Native American or even a new death. If these turn out to be Native American bones, it could be someone got wind of charges coming down and did not want to get caught with them.

I found the timing in these cases interesting and thought I’d throw all of this out there to see what you all thought.

Below is a timeline of events and articles attached.

June 7th or 8th The Luetjen’s are murdered execution style.
http://www.kspr.com/news/local/47964541.html (http://www.kspr.com/news/local/47964541.html)

(snip)
At the first news conference Thursday they said the Luetjens each died of a gunshot wound, but there are no suspects and no motives- officially.

Eickhoff recalls, “I do know he had a lot of valuable things in his home."

Friends and neighbors have a bit more to tell.

They say Donnie Luetjen had an Indian artifact collection possibly worth a million dollars in his home.

June 8th, A Federal judge signs support for search warrant
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site297/2009/0610/20090610_024033_artifact_affidavit_061009.pdf (http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site297/2009/0610/20090610_024033_artifact_affidavit_061009.pdf)

June 9th Box of bones discovered in Springville.
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85113

June 10th, Indictment handed down and arrests are made.
FBI charges 24 in American Indian artifact looting case
Feds: Southern Utah history stolen from the Four Corners area.
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12561194 (http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12561194)

For two years, someone close to a large network of archaeological looters in southeastern Utah was wired with an audio-visual recorder when buying ancient baby blankets, stone pipes, seed jars, digging sticks, pots, even a pre-Columbian menstrual pad.
This "Source," as he or she is identified in a search warrant affidavit unsealed Wednesday, is an insider who worked with U.S. Bureau of Land Management and FBI special agents to nab two dozen suspects in the theft and sale of more than 250 American Indian artifacts from the Four Corners area. (more at link)

June 11th, Artifact theft suspect and prominent Southern Utah physician James Redd commits suicide.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12572033 (http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12572033)

Anger and fear generated by federal charges of artifact looting in the vast deserts of southeastern Utah merged with sorrow Thursday when James Redd - a 60-year-old physician and defendant in the case - was found dead on his Blanding property. (more at link)

Kathee

06-15-2009, 07:57 PM

KSPR got permission from the family to videotape the funeral.

RAW VIDEO PART 1: Hundreds Honor Murdered Cole Camp Family (http://www.kspr.com/news/local/48085127.html)http://media.kspr.com/designimages/wagt_video_icon.gif Video (http://media.kspr.com/designimages/wagt_video_icon.gif[/IMG] Video)

RAW VIDEO PART 2: Hundreds Honor Murdered Cole Camp Family (http://www.kspr.com/news/local/48085252.html)http://media.kspr.com/designimages/wagt_video_icon.gif Video (http://media.kspr.com/designimages/wagt_video_icon.gif[/IMG] Video)

RAW VIDEO PART 3: Hundreds Honor Murdered Cole Camp Family (http://www.kspr.com/news/local/48085312.html)http://media.kspr.com/designimages/wagt_video_icon.gif Video (http://media.kspr.com/designimages/wagt_video_icon.gif[/IMG] Video)

RAW VIDEO PART 4: Hundreds Honor Murdered Cole Camp Family (http://www.kspr.com/news/local/48086232.html)http://media.kspr.com/designimages/wagt_video_icon.gif Video (http://www.kspr.com/r?19=950&32=4407&7=232817&40=http://www.kspr.com/news/local/48086232.html?skipthumb%3DY&41=Video+RAW+VIDEO+PART+4:+Hundreds+Honor+Murdered +Cole+Camp+Family&18=0.9798351390439559)

Reannan

06-15-2009, 10:10 PM

SuziQ

06-16-2009, 12:04 PM

Gosh SuziQ....if your connection isn't part of this puzzle, it is another great example of why WS's has more interesting information than any Hollywood movie. Those connections are too much of a coincidence to not be connected. Anyone in Missouri with an artifact collection worth over $1 million dollars would probably have a lot of connections to Utah, and other heavily American Indian populated areas of the US.

It was weird. I hadn't heard or read about Indian artifacts for years, maybe a decade. Then all of a sudden within a week, it's a theme in three cases.

The one thing that throws the connection out is I haven't heard of the Feds being involved with the Cole Camp investigation. You'd think if their star witness or someone somehow involved, was gunned down, they'd be working with local authorities. Then again, how many times have we heard that the left hand isn't talking to the right hand?

Another thing to note about the case in Utah. While the suspects are charged with the theft of $335,000. worth of artifacts, they are actually going to lose millions of dollars of the stuff they are not allowed to own. They have so much they rent buildings and storage units. The Feds will give it all back to the tribes and they wil rebury it.

Also in a 2008 Federal report on stolen artifacts in the West. There is an interesting, unexplained statement that Meth dealing is involved.

Le Singe

06-17-2009, 05:24 PM

Sounds to me like some type pf robbery motivated crime. I would think the binding is a sign that whom ever did this needed the victims alive for something i.e. location of valuables, combination to safe, pin number, maybe even was planning to take one of them to the bank to make a withdrawl.

I would guess it is someone who lives in the area, or is related, that heard about them having money or things of value. I would guess that its probibly some shady late teens and/or 20 somethings types and it being rural missouri meth may well be involved. It would not suprizes me if it was a couple of knuckle heads running low on money that had been up for days[on meth] and some one brought up "...I heard so and so has such and such" and they got one of those brilliant meth+awake for days ideas......

very tragic....only slight plus to this would be that it should not be to hard to catch them. These type of ppl are out of their minds ie not very careful, love to run their mouths, and live in a world full of people who are constantly getting in trouble with the law and who are more than willing to sell their own mothers out for a reduced sentance

Note: this is 100% speculation on my part just one possible theory.

nursebeeme

06-17-2009, 06:56 PM

was anything stolen from the family collection?

nursebeeme

06-17-2009, 06:56 PM

who stood to inherit the family collection?

Kathee

06-17-2009, 08:27 PM

A week after a family was found gunned down in their Benton County home the question on almost everyones mind in Cole Camp and neighboring communities is who killed Donnie, Sharon and Taron Luetjen?

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/who-killed-luetjens.html

SuziQ

06-17-2009, 10:40 PM

was anything stolen from the family collection?

LE won't say if anything was taken, but they do say they haven't ruled out robbery.

I too, would like to know who was next on the inheritance list.

Lindadanette

06-17-2009, 11:52 PM

Hi - I found an interesting blog about this case - written by someone who knew the family:

http://christao408.xanga.com/704254498/small-town-triple-homicide/
Snipped ~

Great-grandma Tess' house was the oldest house in town (picture about half way down this web page (http://www.colecampmo.com/history.html)), the only house on a city block's worth of property that would have been large enough for another half-dozen houses, except for one other house. The other house belonged to Donnie and Sharon Luetjen, a couple about the age of my parents who had a son and a daughter, Terry a little older than me and Debbie about my age.

Snipped~

When Terry's first born was just a month old, she was orphaned when her father was killed. Debbie and Terry's parents took custody of their granddaughter, raising her as their own. They were good people, hard working and always looked out for my grandparents and their property, especially after my grandfather passed away in 1986 and my grandmother didn't go down to Cole Camp nearly as often.

Snipped ~

Yesterday my mother sent an email to me and my sister: my uncle had heard on the news about a triple homicide in Cole Camp. Donnie and Sharon and their 15-year old granddaughter were reportedly stabbed to death. Police believe it was a robbery (Donnie's collection of antique Indian arrowheads and other items was well-known about town) gone bad, as all of the artifacts and Donnie's collection of guns were gone.

So - the early report of "stabbing" was wrong, but it's interesting to note that the locals seem to know the artifacts were stolen. I'm still leaning towards a young relative with a bad habit.

SuziQ

06-20-2009, 12:13 AM

Proof that the artifacts investigation is moving across the US and not so far removed from Missouri.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=6876078

(snip)
Another suspect arrested in what authorities alleged was an illegal network of dealers in stolen artifacts has killed himself.

The FBI said Friday that Stephen L. Shrader, 56, shot himself in Shabbona, Ill. It happened the same day he was due in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. Shrader was one of 24 defendants in the roundup of accused artifact thieves (http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=6771105) in the Four Corners area. However, his home was not one of those raided by federal agents. He surrendered to FBI agents in New Mexico last week.

SuziQ

06-20-2009, 12:07 PM

Authorities in Mo. keeping tight lid on Cole Camp triple murder probe

http://www.bnd.com/336/story/815428.html

justthinkin

06-20-2009, 12:57 PM

For some reason this case sure reminds me of Terry and Darleen Anderson murders in Indiana which were likely carried out by drug dealers probably known by their young adult daughter. Terry Anderson was known to have about 7-8,000 in cash on him as he was about to buy a boat.

Ugh, I hate to see this case handled by an agency inexperienced in handling a murder case.

Kathee

06-20-2009, 04:13 PM

Has a small Missouri town lost it's innocence following the murders of three people in Cole Camp?

In the history of the small Benton County town their had never been a single murder in Cole Camp, now law enforcers are conducting a triple homicide investigation.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/is-this-is-end-of-cole-camps-innocence.html

Jack

06-20-2009, 08:16 PM

Ugh, I hate to see this case handled by an agency inexperienced in handling a murder case.

I used to drive through Colecamp occasionally on my way to other places. Each and every time I drove through there was one cop car parked in the same place, always. After years of seeing the car in the same street corner I noticed that it sat there for at least another year with a flat tire. I had to wonder if they even had a police department. I haven't been through there for years now. I'd be curious to know if the lone cop car still sits on the street corner.

Kathee

06-22-2009, 02:03 PM

We are finally getting a glimpse into what cops are looking at and what they need help with as the investigation into the murders of three Cole Camp residents continues.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-details-emerge-in-cole-camp-murders.html

dgfred

06-22-2009, 03:21 PM

I am not able to pull up that link :confused: .

dgfred

06-22-2009, 03:29 PM

OK, I got it. Looking for information on a white pickup, a guy in a white hoody and some other men supposidly that had talked to D.

Kathee

06-25-2009, 03:00 PM

Authorities investigating the triple murders of a Cole Camp family are still waiting for forensic evidence to come back from the state crime lab. Have received phone records.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/investigators-still-waiting-on-forensic.html (http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/investigators-still-waiting-on-forensic.html)

Kathee

06-27-2009, 11:50 AM

THERE'S BEEN AN ARREST IN THE LUETJENS MURDERS.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/breaking-news-arrest-made-in-cole-camp.html

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 12:43 PM

Thanks for the update Kathee! This is great news. I wonder why no presser till 6:30pm though?

Kathee

06-27-2009, 01:08 PM

It's a Saturday, most newsrooms have a skeleton staff on the weekend. Plus, most of the major stations and newspapers are at least two hours away.

kittenish

06-27-2009, 01:59 PM

I'm so glad they arrested someone. I know it's kind of bad to say, but since it's such a small town, I didn't think they would be able to solve it, due to man power, technology, etc. I think I read on City-Data that there are only 3 officers in the town.

kittenish

06-27-2009, 07:20 PM

got kmbc on, waiting for the news conference! I'll try to keep you all posted

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:27 PM

Here is a live link:

http://www.kmbc.com/video/19881123/index.html

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:28 PM

got kmbc on, waiting for the news conference! I'll try to keep you all posted

Please do. I have a cranky old and unreliable computer that can go down at anytime.

kittenish

06-27-2009, 07:32 PM

DNA evidence, motive = robbery, they have reason to believe at least 1+ other suspects on the run

kittenish

06-27-2009, 07:33 PM

they have a suspect awaiting extradition, didn't hear from where

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:33 PM

ugh, I wish anchors wouldn't talk at the begin of pressers!

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:34 PM

From Iowa? Robert Morton? 911 call had something to do with this.

kittenish

06-27-2009, 07:34 PM

Haven't identified who was driving the pickup

kittenish

06-27-2009, 07:34 PM

ugh, i wish anchors wouldn't talk at the begin of pressers!

ugh i know!

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:36 PM

They just cut away and talking again! WTH?

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:36 PM

Go to go into weather now....oh brother.

kittenish

06-27-2009, 07:37 PM

From Iowa? Robert Morton? 911 call had something to do with this.

I'm delusional, I heard Iowa, and Canada.

Idk why I thought I heard Canada, and figured I heard wrong, so I didn't want to post it.

I was like "whattt? there's an iowa in Canada too?" lol

kittenish

06-27-2009, 07:37 PM

Go to go into weather now....oh brother.

:( i know. who cares about tornadoes and stuff, we want the juicey stuff :furious:

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:40 PM

I'm delusional, I heard Iowa, and Canada.

Idk why I thought I heard Canada, and figured I heard wrong, so I didn't want to post it.

I was like "whattt? there's an iowa in Canada too?" lol

Well I'm sure we would have heard more if the anchors would have shut up. :rolleyes:

kittenish

06-27-2009, 07:44 PM

I'm sure it won't take long before we find out who these other people are. Now that they have some good evidence on this first guy, he might give them up for a deal.

I don't think he deserves one, but I'd rather not have other murderers/robbers running loose.

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:44 PM

info from 911 call was very helpful and made from a cell phone....

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/LIVE-News-Conference-On-Cole-Camp-Slayings/UCpOTNUB_0mX3qXgssOCOw.cspx

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:45 PM

Can't say much or will hurt the investigation....

Thanking the media....

SeriouslySearching

06-27-2009, 07:46 PM

Well I'm sure we would have heard more if the anchors would have shut up. :rolleyes:LOL I agree that anchors should keep their traps shut during pressers! It is like they feel what they are saying is somehow more important for some reason. :waitasec:

FifthEssence

06-27-2009, 07:47 PM

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Robert Blerton has been arrested in the slayings of three central Missouri residents earlier this month.

http://www.kmbc.com/news/19879343/detail.html

Investigators announced Saturday that Robert Blerton had been arrested in Iola, Kan. Troopers said there were efforts underway to bring him back to Missouri.

SuziQ

06-27-2009, 07:47 PM

Mr. Robert/Robbie Blurton is the suspect.

SeriouslySearching

06-27-2009, 07:48 PM

kittenish

06-27-2009, 08:09 PM

Iola, kansas kinda sounds like iowa, canada! Maybe I'm not nuts hahahah

STEADFAST

06-27-2009, 08:09 PM

Authorities in Cole Camp have arrested 45-year-old Robert B. Blurton in connection with a triple homicide. The Highway Patrol says he's the nephew of Sharon and Donnie Lutjen. . .
Investigators have DNA evidence and a 911 tape they're using as they continue to work the case.
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=162512

kittenish

06-27-2009, 08:10 PM

Sorry if this was said earlier but who made the 911 call?

Kathee

06-27-2009, 08:22 PM

Nephew allegedly killed the Leutjens

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/nephew-allegedly-killed-luetjens.html

STEADFAST

06-27-2009, 08:38 PM

Sorry if this was said earlier but who made the 911 call?

Strange about the 911 call. It has been consistently reported that the 911 call was made the Tuesday after the murders by someone who was concerned about the home's occupants' welfare.
Is that the 911 call they used as a clue? If there was a 911 call the night of the murders, then why didn't LE go out there. I wonder if Blurton/Blerton himself made the call when it looked like it was taking a while to find the bodies.

kittenish

06-27-2009, 09:45 PM

Strange about the 911 call. It has been consistently reported that the 911 call was made the Tuesday after the murders by someone who was concerned about the home's occupants' welfare.
Is that the 911 call they used as a clue? If there was a 911 call the night of the murders, then why didn't LE go out there. I wonder if Blurton/Blerton himself made the call when it looked like it was taking a while to find the bodies.

Well, that would have been dumb of him :waitasec: Very interesting...

But I don't know how a 911 call from someone else, simply worried about the occupants, would have helped. Unless maybe they heard something or saw a car at the home earlier around the time of the murder and just mentioned it. Still, seems unlikely... If they heard something, they probably would have called immediately.

Maybe it was a relative who had not heard from the family in a few days, but noticed that the nephew had been acting strange or they found one of the stolen items (that they would have recognized from the aunt/uncles home) or had seen blood or something on his clothes. They might have mentioned something like that to a 911 dispatcher.

SuziQ

06-28-2009, 04:29 PM

Nephew allegedly killed the Leutjens

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/nephew-allegedly-killed-luetjens.html

Great article. Sounds like revenge to me. I hope they arrest this other person(s) soon.

Kathee

06-29-2009, 01:30 PM

Blurton is going to fight extradition.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/cole-camp-murder-suspect-will-fight.html

Kathee

06-30-2009, 08:05 PM

Person who listened to enhanced 9-1-1 call, "It was Robbie."

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/witness-who-listened-to-cole-camp.html

STEADFAST

06-30-2009, 08:11 PM

Person who listened to enhanced 9-1-1 call, "It was Robbie."

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/witness-who-listened-to-cole-camp.html

I still don't understand why, if a 911 call was placed from the residence during the murder, didn't LE go out to the house that night??:waitasec:

Reannan

06-30-2009, 08:14 PM

Reannan

06-30-2009, 08:16 PM

Does this mean that no one received the 911 call....that it was only discovered "during the course of the investigation"?

"The telepone recording system at the Central Dispatch trapped the incoming telephone number prior to the call being terminated..."

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blog...cole-camp.html (http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/witness-who-listened-to-cole-camp.html)

SuziQ

06-30-2009, 09:12 PM

I still don't understand why, if a 911 call was placed from the residence during the murder, didn't LE go out to the house that night??:waitasec:

And didn't the 911 operator hear what was being said?

teedie2

07-01-2009, 02:10 AM

From the link above:

"A source says that Betty Blurton, Sharon Luetjens sister and the mother of Robbie Blurton, asked her sister shortly before her death to look after Robbie when he got of jail. The Luetjens helped Robbie Blurton, "get a vehicle and a place to live," according to the source."

Gosh, I bet it was Robbie's Mother, Betty - the sister of Sharon who listened to her own son telling her sister "....sit down, put her arms behind her and at least two threats to shoot her and the other two victims."

How horrible!

The quote in your post omitted some language. Here is the entire sentence:

"A source says that Betty Blurton, Sharon Luetjens sister and the mother of Robbie Blurton, asked her sister shortly before her death several years ago to look after Robbie when he got of jail. "

It sounds like Betty Blurton passed away several years ago. So it was someone else who identified Robbie's voice.

Kathee

07-01-2009, 06:39 PM

UPDATED: More information and the probable cause statement included:

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blog...cole-camp.html (http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/witness-who-listened-to-cole-camp.html)

Kathee

07-29-2009, 06:36 PM

Robbie Blurton waived extradition from Kansas to Missouri and has entered a not guilty plea to killing the Luetjen's. He is due back in court next week.

gaia227

07-30-2009, 01:55 PM

Sorry if this has been clarified but I am still confused about the 911 call. Someone called 911 on June 7th, the night they were killed, you can hear a man in the background threatening them. Why weren't the police dispatched? The 911 dispatcher answered the call and did what? Ignored it?

SuziQ

08-02-2009, 12:20 PM

Marina2

08-02-2009, 03:12 PM

It seems that they didn't have enough information to dispatch help.

UPDATE (07-05-09): The Cole Camp police department did NOT send an officer out to follow up on the lost 9-1-1 call on June 7th. The department utilizes Phase One technology (http://www.ky3.com/news/local/49745197.html), that only lets dispatchers know what cell phone tower is nearest to the originating call.

Phase Two technology pinpoints calls using GPS coordinates.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/06/witness-who-listened-to-cole-camp.html

They probably only heard the voices after enhancing the recording so that the dispatcher only received a call that was disconnected quickly. Upon call back, voicemail was received. What is it that the dispatcher could do at this point? I guess there wasn't anything they could do to help the immediate situation but, was any follow up done at all? Are there criteria they follow wherein a call is dismissed and not investigated? How did they even know of the call existing?

Kathee

08-17-2009, 01:11 AM

Cole Camp police chief Storm Walker says that authorities believe Blurton acted alone in the Leutjen murders.

Kathee

09-09-2009, 10:41 PM

Blurton's preliminary hearing has been set for November 30th.

Benton County prosecutor Karen Woodley has not publicly disclosed whether or not she plans to seek the death penalty in the case.

However, at today's (09-08-09) hearing Blurton met with capital crimes division attorney Charles Mooreland and has met with other attorneys who handle capital murder cases for the public defenders office.

The Luetjen family will be honored with a concert in their memory on September 20th at Water Tower Park in CC. All proceeds will help establish The Luetjen Family Music Scholarship.

http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2009/09/preliminary-hearing-date-set-for.html