Justin staton,14, shot and killed his grand parents on 22nd of july. a planned conceived and carried out along with some of his friends who are also in police custody,hunter drexler, 17, and two others unidentified. justin staton and hunter drexler who where charged with two counts of capital murder of the july 22 deaths of roberts and patricia cogdell at their home in conway, about 30 miles north of little rock.police said the teneeger shot the couple and dumped their bodies in a wood land nearby.
according to an affidavit filed with charges, staton told police that after complaining to drexler about his grand parents, drexler suggested that he shoot them. a plan conceived when they were in juvenile jail together. "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," the affidavit said. "Justin estimated their take at $50,000 to $90,000."
A 17-year-old girl also at the home when the Cogdells were shot told police that Robert Cogdell didn't die immediately and was "choking and gurgling" on the floor outside his 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," the affidavit said. "Justin walked over and shot Robert 1 or 2 times."
Drexler and the other teenagers were detained in Texas days after the killings and found with some of Robert Cogdell's personal and work credit cards. The other teenagers were not charged with any crimes.
Prosecutor Cody Hiland blamed a culture that would let young people behave outside societal norms.
"If the law would allow for you to come into our juvenile courts, you would see young men and young women who are lonely, and they are angry and they are bitter, because their mom and dad have checked out to pursue whatever immediate gratification is driving them at the time," Hiland said.
"It's the breakdown of the family. Faith issues. Societal issues," he said. "I can tell you that our juvenile courts are full and that one day we will reap a bitter harvest when they grow up."
Police had said previously that Staton quickly emerged as a suspect. In May, the Cogdells had called police because the teenager was threatening suicide and had become verbally abusive. In January, Robert Cogdell and Staton had fought after finding marijuana in the boy's room and $300 missing from the grandfather's wallet.
Staton had lived with his grandparents but was arrested at his mother's house with $1,540 in a pants pocket. During one of two interviews with police on July 22, Staton cried a little and said, "I'm so sorry. I don't know why I did it."
Staton, of Conway, and Drexler, of Clinton, were also charged with two counts each of aggravated robbery, theft of property and abuse of a corpse.