Found Deceased AR - Jeremy Scroggins, 28, Harrison, 27 June 2016

Moore says the man was in the Boone County Jail on another charge when he was questioned and admitted he shot Scroggins during the robbery. A 25 year old woman is also facing charges, although online court records to not confirm the two have been formally charged yet.

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A missing man's Facebook records led police to a suspect in the Boone County jail.

Shay Corbett Butler, 22, told police Monday that he shot Jeremy Scroggins, 28, during a robbery attempt in June, according to a news release from the Boone County sheriff's office. Both men were from Harrison.

Butler told police Scroggins' body was in woods near Denning Cemetery, which is 3 miles northwest of Harrison, said Capt. Bob King of the sheriff's office. Police found human remains there late Monday, King said. They will send them to the state Crime Laboratory for positive identification.

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Investigators say, Shay Butler, 22, of Harrison, and Morgan Vaughan, 25, of Jasper, picked up Scroggins on the day he went missing and drove to remote location west of Harrison, near the Denning Cemetery.
The Sheriff’s Department says the pair planned on robbing Scoggins at that location.

During the robbery, Butler shot Scoggins twice, killing him, and then left his body in a wooded area, according to authorities.

Sheriff Mike Moore believes drugs played a factor in the fatal shooting but he’s unaware of why Butler and Vaughan wanted to rob Scroggins.

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Shay Butler pleaded guilty Thursday morning to an amended murder charge in the 2016 shooting death of 28-year-old Jeremy Scroggins

The state amended the charges to capital murder and aggravated robbery, both Class Y felonies punishable by up to life in prison, then dismissed the sentencing enhancements of habitual offender and felony with a firearm, then moved to not prosecute the felon in possession of a firearm charge.

On Thursday, Judge Gordon Webb sentenced Butler to 36 years each on both counts with the sentences to run concurrently and said he would have to serve at least 70 percent of that time, more than 25 years, before being eligible for parole.

Webb also ordered that Butler would be required to testify against Vaughan at trial, which records show is scheduled for Monday, June 5.

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The man who pled guilty to murdering Jeremy Scroggins has already been sent to prison and his codefendant’s trial, which was set to start Monday, was continued last week.

Morgan Vaughan still faces an aggravated robbery charge, which is a Class Y felony punishable on conviction by 10-40 years or life in prison.

Judge Gordon Webb ruled that the trial date could be extended until Sept. 5 “taking into account not only the request of consent of the prosecuting attorney or defense counsel, but also the public interest in prompt disposition of the case,” records show.

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Moore said Guillermo Martinez, 40, of Harrison was already in jail on another charge when he was arrested on suspicion of aggravated robbery Tuesday in connection with Scroggins’ death in 2016.

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Shay Butler pleaded guilty in June 2017 to first-degree murder and aggravated robbery and was sentenced to 36 years in prison. Morgan Vaughan was found guilty of aggravated robbery at jury trial the following September and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Records show she is appealing that conviction.

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