Photo: St. John Police
After the bodies of a teen couple who’d been missing for a week were apparently discovered Saturday morning, a 17-year-old boy was charged with two counts of murder, PEOPLE confirms.
A statement from the Porter County Sheriff’s Office confirms Connor Kerner of Valparaiso is being held without bond after being charged as an adult with the presumed murders of Molley Lanham, 19, and Thomas Grill, 18.
Kerner has been in custody since his arrest Saturday night. Police initially did not suspect foul play led to the couple’s disappearance, and police have not discussed a motive.
According to the sheriff’s office statement, an anonymous source led police to what they believe are the victims’ bodies.
Connor Kerner.Porter County Sheriff’s Office
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The bodies were found inside the torched car, and while police have yet to confirm their identities, “all evidence obtained at this point at the scene and through statements given points to the individuals being Thomas Grill and Molley Lanham.”
A cause of death has not been determined yet.
Kerner’s home was searched Saturday before his arrest, and “a search warrant was issued at a residence in rural Hebron, Indiana, where it is believed the murders took place,” the statement reads.
“Investigators recovered what they believed to be substantial evidence during the execution of these search warrants. Further information and testing is pending on items located during the execution of these warrants.”
Kerner has not entered pleas to the murder charges against him, and efforts to reach his family were unsuccessful Monday.
It was also unclear if he has an attorney of record.
source: people.com
