**********Jennifer Murbarger, age 42, died suddenly as the result of an accident Friday, December 27, 2013.She is survived by her husband, Jayson, an Illinois State Trooper. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. **********Fairfield Woman Dies After Vehicle Enters Flood WatersBy: WROYWRUL News Dec 27th, 2013(Wayne County)-A Fairfield woman passed away Friday morning after her vehicle ran into flood waters in Wayne County.42-year-old Jennifer Murbarger was pronounced dead at Fairfield Memorial Hospital. We're told that the maximum sentence Murbarger faced for the crime was 60 years, and that the minimum possible sentence was 20 years. The remains were found in a rural location in Wayne County, Illinois, FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware previously told Dateline. Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance and killing of 15-year-old Megan Nichols. According to the clerk, Murbarger will now be sentenced on Friday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. Megan was initially considered a missing person until her remains were located in a rural area in Wayne County Illinois in 2018. Nichols' mother, Kathy Jo Hutchcraft, told police she went into the girl's bedroom at their home in Fairfield to say goodnight at around 11.15pm on July 3, 2014, and saw she was not there, reported Courier & Press. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. FAIRFIELD, Ill (WEHT) - Brodey Murbarger, 26, was found guilty of first degree murder on Thursday after the jury deliberated for only an hour. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). A search warrant was then executed at Murbargers home address at 5037 Lakeside Court, which is located in the Lakewood West apartment complex., Murbarger was then transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he will await extradition back to Illinois.. Evansville man charged in connection with 2014 murder of Illinois teen, Evansville man linked to murder of Megan Nichols, victims friend speaks out. Nichols was last seen on ATM surveillance video riding her bicycle to a local bank to withdraw money. Oops, something didn't work. The accident happened early Friday in Jasper Township along the backwater of the Little Wabash River.Murbarger reportedly called her husband to say that she was stranded and needed help. FAIRFIELD, Ill. (WEHT) - As the murder trial for Brodey Murbarger continues into its second week, the jury heard from two unexpected witnesses, first Murbarger's father Jayson, followed by. Brodey Ian Murbarger, 24, was arrested Wednesday, October 8, 2020, in the 2014 murder of 15-year-old Megan Nichols whose body was found nearly three years ago in a shallow grave in southeastern. Murbarger is strangled and suffocated Megan Nichols to death in her Fairfield home on July 3, 2014, and later buried her body in a shallow grave in a rural part of Wayne County. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? There were a few cryptic clues left behind at the home, one was Megan's cell phone which had been completely wiped. Published: Oct. 5, 2022 at 12:59 PM PDT. Megan was last seen on July 3, 2014, at her Fairfield, Illinois home and reported missing the next day. Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance. To use this feature, use a newer browser. After deliberating for more than an hour, a jury found Brodey Murbarger guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Megan Nichols. Murbarger was asked about his sons vehicle, which was totaled in an accident in 2016, and is the same vehicle believed to have been used to transport Nichols body on July 3, 2014, the day of her disappearance, with Nichols blood found in the trunk of Brodey Murbargers car. Below are several media links related to the disappearance and murder of Megan Nichols as well as a photograph of Nichols. Detectives with the Indiana State Police, Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office, and the Evansville Police Department were made aware of a murder warrant being issued for the arrest of an Evansville resident. In a room full of family and friends of Megan Nichols, the court along with jurors learned more about the relationship between Nichols and Murbarger. On October 7th, 2020, 24-year-old Brodey Ian Murbarger was arrested and charged with Megans murder. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Please reset your password. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Failed to report flower. Police say Nichols was initially considered a missing person until her remains were found in a rural area in Wayne County, Illinois in 2018. Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records, AGRIVATED BATTERY CRIMINAL RECKLESSNESS W/DEADLY WEAPON. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. The Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office, the Evansville Police Department and the FBI are investigating. 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. Your email address will not be published. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. During testimony, Jayson Murbarger stated the trunk often leaked water, but did not know of any other fluids that may be in the trunk. On October 7th, 2020, 24-year-old Brodey Ian Murbarger was arrested and charged with Megan's murder. Copyright 2023, WRUL-FM by WRUL-FM. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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. Testimony. This is a carousel with slides. Murbarger had lived in Fairfield, and met Nichols at New Hope School, where he was a senior and she was a sophomore. 'Its one of those things where you kind of always knew it was him,' August said. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. From our sister station WFIW in Fairfield. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020 . Holden August, Nichols' friend from high school, told 14News he was not surprised when he heard of Burbarger's arrest in connection to her death. Brodey Murbarger was arrested in 2020. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Megan was initially considered a missing person until her remains were located in a rural area in Wayne County Illinois in 2018. Follow 44News on Facebook, or download the free 44News apps on Android or Apple devices. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Police say Nichols was initially considered a missing person until her remains were found in a rural area in Wayne County, Illinois in 2018. Carl spotted something, and Jacque says, Hes like I found something. If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Megans death, please contact the FBI at (217) 522-9675. The request for a reduction in bond was denied given the serious nature of the allegations against Murbarger. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The man at the center of a high profile murder case out of Wayne County, Illinois, learned his sentence on Friday. She was found beneath the ice, near her vehicle.Murbarger died at the hospital from apparent hypothermia, according to the coroner. There is a problem with your email/password. Verify and try again. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. Learn more about merges. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 2023 Chip Chick Media Inc. All rights reserved. But FBI Public Information Officer Brad Ware could not confirm these details to Dateline due to the case being an ongoing investigation. EVANSVILLE, Ind. Drag images here or select from your computer for Jennifer Diane Mason Murbarger memorial. cemeteries found in Fairfield, Wayne County, Illinois, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The body was positively identified as Nichols a month later. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. Add to your scrapbook. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Candidates campaign ahead of Tuesday primary, Street closed after sinkhole opens up in Princeton, Farewell to Roca Bar: Original location serves last, Hopkinsville PD welcomes K9 Leo from Czech Republic, American Red Cross hosting #WildtStrong Blood Drive, Panthers oust record-setting Bruins 4-3 in OT in, Kraken beat Avs 2-1, eliminate defending Stanley, Grab your fancy duds for Met Gala mania with Karl, Harper could return to Phillies lineup Tuesday at, Curry scores playoff career-high 50 as Warriors down, Register your business, school for our weather closing alerts, Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year Winner, Vanderburgh Co. Health Department Mobile Vaccines, Putting trust back in trustee: the need and role of township government, Hit and run incidents on the rise in Evansville, Construction contract approved for Pickleball at Wesselman Park, Owensboro business repairs storm-damaged roof, Repairs continue for Owensboro church damaged by severe storm. Sep 2019 - Present3 years 5 months. Murbarger was arrested in 2020 while working in Indiana. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Multiple agencies in Evansville, Indiana took Brodey Murbarger, 24, into custody Wednesday morning. I have been informed by the FBI that they have positively identified Megans body, Megans biological father, Jackson Nichols, posted on Facebook. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 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. Sorry! Its one of those things where you kind of always knew it was him," Hold told WFIE. Hutchcraft said the note appeared to have been written in her daughter's hand, but it seemed the words did not came from her. There was a problem getting your location. Brodey I. Murbarger appeared via Zoom for a brief pre-trial conference in Wayne County Circuit Court Tuesday where . Murbarger lived in Fairfield, Illinois, and met Nichols at New Hope School, where he was senior and she was a sophomore. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Murbarger did address Judge Molt, asking for leniency. Nichols was reported as missing by her family and was initially deemed a runaway by the police, until her skeletal remains were unearthed in December 2017. Brody Murbarger, 24, was arrested on Wednesday at his place of work in Evansville, Indiana, on a warrant charging him with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death and home invasion in the killing of Megan Nichols. A second pre-trial conference was scheduled for January. Speaking to 14News, the couple that discovered her, Carl Vaughan and Jacque Beck, explained that Carl was taking care of a tree that had fallen down. Courtesy of Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department, Pre-trial Hearing Held Tuesday for Brodey I. Murbarger. Nichols had gone missing in 2014 at the age of 15, but in 2017, her remains were discovered in a rural area of Wayne County, eventually leading to Murbarger's arrest. Megan, who was featured in Datelines digital series Missing in America shortly after she vanished, was initially considered a missing person. , updated Chip Chick After six. Brodey Murbarger was arrested for murder on todays date outside his place of employment without incident, the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. "Brodey Murbarger was arrested for murder on. Records show his attorney is demanding a jury trial on or before. If you have any information regarding the circumstances of Megans death, please contact the FBI at (217) 522-9675. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. It had been wiped clean. A pre-trial hearing was held yesterday (Tuesday) via Zoom in Wayne County Circuit Court for 25-year-old Brodey I. Murbarger. FBI investigator William OSullivan took the stand Wednesday, detailing the results of his investigation of more than 7,000 text exchanges between Nichols and Murbarger from December 2013 to February 2014. The accident happened early Friday in Jasper Township along the backwater of the Little Wabash River. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Brodey Murbarger testified that Megans blood was in his car after a sexual encounter, in which he used his shirt to clean the blood. Shared messages from February 2014 showed a more tumultuous relationship, with Murbarger at one point calling Nichols annoying. After the state rested its case, the defense team called Jayson Murbarger, Brodey Murbargers father, to the stand. After six. Thanks for your help! On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. It wasn't until 2017 that Nichols' remains were discovered in a rural area of Wayne County. A search team found Murbarger's vehicle abandoned. UPDATE: Brodey Murbarger found guilty of murdering Megan Nichols in 2014. (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. Deputiesexecuted a search warrant at Murbargers home in the Lakewood West apartment complex. Andrea Cavallier is a Digital Producer for Dateline NBC. UPDATE: Brodey Murbarger found guilty of murdering Megan Nichols in 2014. Murbarger was accused in the 2014 disappearance. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. She had left her cell phone on her bed at home, but the device had been wiped clean. Her whereabouts remained a mystery for three years until human remains were found on December 26, 2017. The FBI, along with many law enforcement organizations, including the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and the Evansville Police Department, continue to investigate Megans case.