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Latest: Charred bodies found outside Edgerton home, stealing charge filed

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Grayden Denham
Grayden Denham

An Edgerton man has been charged with stealing a car from the scene of a fatal fire in rural Platte County.  Grayden L. Denham, 24, is accused of stealing a car from Russell and Shirley Denham, who lived at the location.

Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said the charge was filed the evening of February 21, as part of an ongoing homicide investigation involving the death of three adults and one infant and a fire that started on February 19 on property located on Buena Vista Road in Edgerton.

According to court documents, Grayden Denham allegedly stole a 2012 brown Nissan Versa, which was owned by Russell and Shirley Denham.

The investigation began on February 20, when Platte County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a structure fire at 4170 Buena Vista Road, in Edgerton.  During the course of the investigation, deputies found the bodies of one adult male, two adult females, and one infant child.  They also discovered that one vehicle, a brown 2012 Nissan Versa with handicapped license plates, was missing from the residence.

Records from the Missouri Department of Revenue show the owners of the vehicle are Shirley and Russell Denham. Grayden Denham, who normally stayed at the residence, was not located there.

Investigators determined from relatives and neighbors that Grayden Denham was not allowed to drive the Nissan Versa or any of the other vehicles from that location because his driver’s license had been suspended.

A records check revealed that Grayden Denham’s driving status has been revoked by the State of Missouri due to points violations and child support enforcement issues.

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

Judge Tom Fincham issued a warrant for Grayden Denham’s arrest.  He set bond on the case at $100,000 cash only. Grayden Denham is currently in custody in Yavapai County, Arizona.

The stealing charge is a Class C felony.  It is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Platte County Sheriff Mark Owen provided additional details regarding the ongoing homicide investigation.

When Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived at the location on February 20, the home was fully engulfed in flames. Deputies saw three bodies in the front yard, two adults and one infant.  A dog was also dead in the yard.  All of the bodies had been burned.

A male body was found by an out building east of the home.  The body was laying on its back and was badly burned.

A red plastic gas container was found approximately four to five feet from the body.

A witness indicated that an older couple lived at the location, possibly with a granddaughter, grandson, and great-granddaughter.

Owen said the homicide case remained under active investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department, Metro Squad, and State Fire Marshall’s office.  He said the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the manner of death of the four victims is homicide.

Authorities are awaiting examination of dental records before confirming the identities of the homicide victims.

Two investigators from the Metro Squad are already in Arizona, and two more will be traveling to Arizona to recover evidence there.

Zahnd said he was handling the case personally, with First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Gibson and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Megan Benton.

 

Tweets from press conference in reference to the ongoing instigation:

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