CONWAY -- A prosecutor charged two teens with capital murder and other felony offenses Friday in the shooting deaths of a couple who raised one of the boys. Police said the killings were part of a plot hatched in juvenile jail and aimed at stealing money and credit cards.
Charged as adults with two counts each of capital murder, aggravated robbery, theft of property by threat and abuse of a corpse were Hunter Drexler, 17, of Clinton and Justin Staton, the 14-year-old boy who lived in Conway with the couple, Robert and Patricia Cogdell, both 66.
For years, even after genetic testing in 2008 proved otherwise, Staton thought the Cogdells were his paternal grandparents. In 2010, a court agreed to make them his legal guardians.
"There are additional suspects that we expect formal charges to be filed on in the coming weeks," Prosecutor Cody Hiland said. No persons of interest, or suspects, are "at large."
Both victims were shot "multiple times" July 21 and moved from their home to a wooded area, and Robert Cogdell's body was wrapped in a living-room rug, according to a police affidavit unsealed Friday and signed by police Detective Mike Welsh.
Two other Arkansas juveniles, Conner Atchley and Anastasia Rose Roberts, both 17, remained in custody but hadn't been charged as adults in this case as of Friday. Neither Hiland nor Conway Police Chief A.J. Gary comment on the status of either Atchley or Roberts.
The affidavit says during two interviews July 22, "Justin advised that he and Hunter were talking and he (Justin) mentioned some issues with him and his grandparents. Justin advised that Hunter suggested that the grandparents be shot and killed. Justin advised that he thought Hunter was kidding but when his grandparents arrived [home on July 21], Hunter shot both of them."
"Justin admitted to helping Hunter move the bodies of his grandparents and showed Hunter how to operate the tractor," it adds. "Justin admitted to taking money from his grandfather's wallet after he was killed."
Neither Gary nor Hiland would say whether the teens used the tractor to move the bodies, but the affidavit says police found blood on the tractor parked in the couple's yard.
During one of the interviews, detective Welsh wrote Staton, "starts to cry a little and says 'I'm so sorry, I don't know why I did it.'"
The affidavit says bullets fired at Robert Cogdell passed through a wall and struck Roberts and Atchley, who were sitting on the Cogdells' bed. Neither wound was life-threatening.
"Immediately after Robert was shot, Justin entered the bedroom and was holding a black pistol with a scope," Welsh wrote.
Roberts didn't know where Drexler was but thinks Drexler shot Pat Cogdell in the garage "because Justin would not have had enough time to get to the garage to fire the second round of shots she heard," the detective added.
Robert Cogdell didn't die from his initial wounds, she told police.
"She advised that he was choking and gurgling while he sat on the floor outside of the bedroom. She told Justin that he [needed] to do something about the noise Robert was making and suggested that Robert be put out of his misery," Welsh wrote.
"She advised that Justin walked over and shot Robert [one or two] times. She did not witness the shots being fired but Hunter was nowhere around and Justin was standing over Robert immediately after the shots were fired. She did not shoot Robert. Conner did not shoot Robert," the detective added in the affidavit.
Roberts also told police there was a plan to kill the Cogdells.
"She and Conner planned to run away and were promised a BMW to use on their run," police said, adding Atchley confirmed her statement.
The Cogdells owned a BMW.
Atchley also said "that this plan was conceived while he, Justin and Hunter were in juvenile jail together. He advised that Justin's plan was to shoot and kill his grandparents, split a large sum of money and credit cards between the three of them and then they would all run away. Justin estimated their take at $50,000 to $90,000," the affidavit added.
"Conner confirmed that Justin gave him $1,000 and gave Hunter $500," Welsh wrote.
"Hunter's contribution to Justin's plan was furnishing weapons, stolen from his father's collection. Conner's contribution to Justin's plan is his vast knowledge of marijuana (buying, selling, and growing). Conner told Anastasia about the plan after he was released from jail," the detective continued.
Police said tests indicate two weapons -- a Ruger rifle and a Smith & Wesson pistol -- were used to shoot Robert Cogdell and one weapon -- a Ruger rifle -- was used to fire the shells found in the garage where Patricia Cogdell was shot.
Police in Graham, Texas, arrested Drexler, Atchley and Roberts as they drove through the north-central Texas town early July 23. Police there described the three as "persons of interest" in the Conway case. All three later were turned over to Arkansas authorities.
A search warrant for the Cogdells' truck, found hidden behind a workshop near the Conway home of Staton's mother and biological grandfather, turned up an AK-47, a 12-gauge shotgun, a black Smith & Wesson .22-caliber pistol with a red dot scope and a 1911-style .45-caliber pistol, the affidavit says. Ammunition for both pistols and the shotgun also were found.
Police also said Staton had $1,540 in his pants pocket when he was arrested at his mother's home shortly after officers found the Cogdells' bodies.
When police searched Drexler's vehicle in Texas, they said they found credit cards for the city of Maumelle in Robert Cogdell's name. He was director of public works there. They also reported finding other cards belonging to Robert Cogdell, rags with suspected blood stains, cell phones, live shells and spent casings.
Both defendants also are charged with a firearms enhancement, which could increase their sentences if they are convicted.
Arkansas law says capital murder is punishable by death or life in prison without parole. Because the suspects are younger than 18, though, the state cannot seek the death penalty, Hiland noted.
He previously said he believes he can legally charge a person younger than 18 with capital murder if the jury is given the option of sentencing the defendant to 10 to 40 years or life in prison without parole if found guilty.
NW News on 08/08/2015