Second man charged in Saffert murder

Ketcher faces two counts of first

degree murder

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD -- A second man was charged with the murder of Edwin "Speedy" Saffert late Thursday.

James Robert Ketcher, 27, 215 West Central St., Springfield, was formally charged with two counts of first degree murder in Brown County District Court.

Ketcher joins Daniel Ramon Pena, 16, also of Springfield, who was charged with murder Wednesday. Pena will be tried as an adult.

Ketcher was arrested in Springfield late Wednesday evening.

Both men are facing maximum sentences of life in prison for killing Saffert, 79, who was found dead by a Springfield meter reader who had entered Saffert's house after he did not come to the door. Saffert was found lying in bed with blood splattered on the bedroom walls and furniture, according to court documents.

An autopsy performed by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office Monday confirmed that Saffert was killed by blunt trauma that caused severe injuries to the head and concluded that the manner in which he died was definitely murder.

Brown County Investigator Bob Christensen said more arrests are possible although the focus of the investigation is turning towards the grand jury investigation into the charges against Pena and Ketcher.

"We'll have to see which way the investigation goes, but it does look like there could be more arrests coming," Christensen said.

Springfield Police Chief Jeff Cummins reiterated what Christensen said, adding that the team of investigators is soon going to reorganize and examine its findings in order to tie up any loose ends and will then choose its next plan of action.

"Right now, we're trying to interview all the people mentioned in this investigation no matter how major or minor," Cummins said.

The motive in the crime was robbery. The men expected to find cash in the house. However, none was found, according to Christensen.

The grand jury is required by state law in order to win a first-degree murder conviction, according to Brown County Attorney James Olson. It is expected to convene in New Ulm on Oct. 1.

In interviews with investigators, Ketcher and Pena gave differing accounts of the crime.

Like Pena, Ketcher is one of three people that investigators say were talking about robbing Saffert nearly a week and half before the murder.

Ketcher allegedly told investigators during an interview on Tuesday that he heard Pena and a couple others talking about robbery. Ketcher reportedly told police that Pena was going to rob Saffert so he could move his mother to California so she could be closer to her other son, who is in the U. S. military.

Ketcher said Pena told him he'd find the wooden stick used in the killing hidden and wrapped in a black rag under the workbench in Ketcher's garage, the criminal complaint states.

Pena allegedly asked Ketcher to get rid of it, but Ketcher didn't have a driver's license so his wife drove him to a section of North Star Township where the rag and stick were reportedly thrown into the Cottonwood River. Law enforcement later found the weapon and preliminary testing found blood on the stick, court documents said.

Investigators decided to have Ketcher talk to Pena again, this time wearing a concealed recording device. Pena went to Ketcher's house Tuesday night but the device didn't work. Ketcher told investigators that Pena admitted killing Saffert, hitting him some 12 times with the stick, the complaint stated.

Pena allegedly confessed to robbing Saffert, but denied involvement in Saffert's murder during an interview with BCA agents, court documents said.

According to Pena, Ketcher went with him when he went to rob Saffert's house and "carried a black plastic bag with a long object" coming out of it, court documents said.

Pena said he and Ketcher went into Saffert's house through the back door, but maintained that he stayed on the porch and that it was Ketcher who went inside the house. Pena said Ketcher took the stick out of the bag. Pena told investigators he later heard what sounded like swinging motions and saw Ketcher running back and forth inside the house.

Investigators searched Ketcher's house in Springfield on Wednesday morning.

Ketcher voluntarily went to the Springfield police station for an interview just before the warrant was executed. Court documents said Ketcher initially denied any involved with either the robbery or Saffert's death, but later admitted Pena woke him up and around 4 a.m. on Sept. 15. just before they left for Saffert's house.

They took the wooden stick from Ketcher's garage and allegedly decided to hit Saffert on the head if he woke up during the course of the robbery. Pena carried the stick and a flashlight to Saffert's house. Court documents said both men were wearing dark clothing and took steps to avoid both police and a surveillance camera at a nearby grocery store.

Ketcher said he and Pena both went inside Saffert's house and said Pena entered first. Ketcher said he searched the freezer and refrigerator for some cash. Pena allegedly looked under the carpets.

Ketcher said Pena went into Saffert's bedroom. He said he then heard a whacking noise as if someone was hitting someone else. Ketcher said he heard a moan and Pena told him to come into the bedroom and "look at this." Ketcher said he went into the bedroom, where he "heard labored breathing," court documents said. There was a night light in the kitchen area and Ketcher said he could see blood splattered on the wall. Ketcher said he went into the bedroom and was standing behind Pena and when he saw Saffert he told Pena to "get the (expletive) out of here."

Ketcher said they left the house and went back and hid the stick in his garage.

When asked if he thought Saffert's murder is a major case, Christensen said, "Absolutely it's a major case. Homicide is considered a serious felony and it has affected many lives in profound ways."