Menu
TOP STORY OF THE DAY: MURDER IN BRAZIL - Suspect in custody in less than 24 hours
Brazil was rocked to its core recently with information a murder took place. However, quick action by local law enforcement led to the suspect being in custody within 24 hours.
On Friday, according to official documents, Jon Luke Benjamin McGuff, 25, Brazil/Reelsville, was booked into the Clay County Justice Center at 11:43 a.m. Friday, by Indiana State Police.
McGuff was taken into custody in Terre Haute, without incident, by the ISP Putnamville Post Criminal Division. McGuff was preliminarily charged without bond for a level 1 felony Murder, allegedly in connection with a deadly shooting in Brazil on Thursday afternoon.
Indiana State Police Sargent Matt Ames said in a press conference late Thursday evening the Clay County 911 Dispatch received a call at 3:50 p.m. reporting shots fired on the northwest side of Brazil Thursday afternoon.
When officers arrived, they found a deceased male with several gunshot injuries. The deceased's name was released late Friday evening after the family was contacted.
The Clay County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as William Matherly, 48, from Cloverdale, IN.
Initially, the Brazil Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Clay County Prosecutor’s Office, Clay County Coroner’s Office, and Indiana Conservation Department were all on the scene at 310 North Leavitt St., Brazil.
“This happened in the city, but I have asked the Indiana State Police to take the lead. They have more resources than the city. I asked, and they have accepted,” said Brazil Police Chief Clint McQueen.
The investigation was conducted by Indiana State Police Detectives Don Curtis, Jason Schofstall, and Angie Hahn, with the assistance of Sergeant Michael Featherling, First Sergeant Brian Maudlin, and CSI Sergeant Tim Rader withTrooper Ames, and preliminary work was done by BPD and CCSD.
Probable Cause Affidavit
NOTE: The Brazil Times will not release any names of witnesses involved in the investigation, only the two individuals confirmed at this time. This is an ongoing investigation and no formal court proceedings have been held at this time, and only partial details are available in the Probable Cause Affidavit(PC).
According to the PC on file with the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office, several witnesses in the homicide investigation were located early.
Some type of an argument with Matherly was apparently the catalyst when McGuff arrived at the house in a white pickup truck with a female. During the argument, McGuff allegedly pulled out a black Glock and shot Matherly four times and left.
The witness said they knew the gun McGuff had because McGuff had threatened him with it earlier in the week.
Investigators found two PPU 9mm Luger shell casings at the feet of the victim, and an unspent Federal 10mm Auto shell just north of the victim, along with a pocket knife, blade open, near the edge of the alley near the head of the victim.
Other details in the PC include:
McGuff’s white Ford F150 pickup truck investigators were looking for had been altered, removing the camper shell and decals, and a taillight was busted.
McGuff made allegations that Matherly had tried to stab him during the altercation.
McGuff was with family members when he turned himself, the gun, and a cellphone in to authorities.
McGuff and the female slept in a wooded area near County Road 300 South and 200 East before McGuff turned himself in.
The female who was with McGuff confirmed parts of McGuff’s story. She told officers that Matherly charged the pickup truck with a knife out in the open, threatening to kill both McGuff and herself. She said McGuff warned Matherly several times he was going to shoot him before he did.
The investigation is ongoing, and there is no further information to release at this time.
NOTE: All suspects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
McQueen said the quick resolution in this case is because all of the agencies involved work so well with each other.