CARTHAGE, Mo. (AP) - A southwest Missouri couple has been charged with killing an 87-year-old man after breaking into his home to steal his prescription medication.
The Joplin Globe (http://bit.ly/18LWz5f) reports that 48-year-old Brian Benefiel and 27-year-old Kelli Benefiel were charged Friday in Jasper County Circuit Court with first-degree murder, burglary and armed criminal action.
They each are being held on $500,000 bond. No attorney is listed for either of them in online court records.
The probable cause statement says the Benefiels told police they beat and stabbed Raymond Ritchhart to death in his Carthage home. A neighbor discovered his body Monday night and called 911. The killing is believed to have taken place the day before.
Ritchhart is a retired farmer and World War II veteran.