14-year-old in Arkansas charged with killing grandparents

CONWAY, Ark. (AP) — A 14-year-old boy shot and killed his grandparents during a robbery-and-murder scheme hatched while he and two other friends were held in an Arkansas juvenile jail, police and prosecutors said today.

Justin Staton, along with Hunter Drexler, 17, were each charged as adults with two counts of capital murder today in the July 22 deaths of Robert and Patricia Cogdell at their home in Conway, about 30 miles north of Little Rock. Police said the teenagers shot the couple and dumped their bodies in a wooded area nearby.

According to an affidavit filed with the charges, Staton told officers that, after complaining to Drexler about his grandparents, Drexler suggested that he shoot them. Another 17-year-old boy who was at the home at the time of the attack told officers the plan had been conceived while all three 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.