(UPDATE 2:21 P.M. PLATTE COUNTY PROSECUTOR NEWS RELEASE) –  An Edgerton man who was found in Arizona following the death of four of his family members was arraigned in Platte County Associate Circuit Court on June 6 for allegedly stealing a car from the crime scene.  Grayden L. Denham, 24, of Edgerton, is accused of stealing a car from Russell and Shirley Denham, who lived at the location. 

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said Denham was arraigned following his extradition from Arizona.  Platte County Sherriff’s Department deputies transported Denham from Arizona, and he arrived at the Platte County Jail on June 4.

On February 20, Russell and Shirley Denham were found dead at their home in Edgerton.  Their granddaughter Heather Ager, 32, and her three-month-old son Mason Schiavoni, were also found dead.  A fire had completely destroyed a home on the property, and all of the victims’ bodies had been burned.

According to court documents, Grayden Denham, who normally stayed at the residence, was not located there.  Grayden Denham allegedly stole a 2012 brown Nissan Versa, which was owned by Russell and Shirley Denham.

Grayden Denham was located in Arizona on February 21 along with the 2012 Nissan Versa.  The Nissan Versa’s Missouri license plates had allegedly been removed and replaced with stolen Oklahoma license plates.

The stealing charge is a Class C felony.  It is punishable by up to seven years in prison.  Grayden Denham remains in custody on a $100,000 cash only bond.  His next court appearance is scheduled for June 14 at 9:00 a.m. in Division IV of the Platte County Circuit Court.

Zahnd and Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen have earlier said that Grayden Denham was a person of interest in the homicides.  Zahnd said that case remains under investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri Fire Marshall’s Office.

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PLATTE CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man police consider a person of interest in the deaths of four of his relatives in northwest Missouri has been extradited from Arizona.

The Kansas City Star reports Grayden Lane Denham was returned to Platte County custody on Saturday. He is being held on $100,000 cash-only bond.

Denham is being held on a theft charge but authorities want to question him about the deaths of his grandparents, his sister and his 3-month-old nephew. The four were found dead in February outside the grandparents’ burning home near Edgerton.

No charges have been filed in the victims’ deaths. Authorities have not said how they died.  As we previously reported, the bodies were found burned outside of the home.

Denham was arrested Feb. 21 while walking naked in Seligman, Arizona. The theft charge alleges he took his grandparents’ car and drove to Arizona.

(AP and Post)