Brothers who saved meth-lab equipment but let grandmother die inside burning house charged with murder
Two brothers in New York state were indicted by a Steuben County grand jury on charges of second-degree murder in connection with a fire that killed their grandmother in May.
Gladys Ann Willow, 82, died on May 14 after a blaze broke out at her residence in the village of Riverside, USA Today reports.
According to New York State Police at Painted Post, Willow succumbed to injuries she sustained while being trapped inside the burning home. Speaking to WETM, Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker said the brothers allegedly saved their meth-lab equipment from the fire, but left their grandmother to die inside the burning structure.
The station further reported that the duo went to get cigarettes after saving the equipment, and did not report the blaze to concerned authorities. The Steuben County fire investigation team joined hands with state police to investigate the incident, and later determined the Riverside house was possibly the site for a full-fledged meth-making operation.
Following the investigation, state police charged 21-year-old Justin L. Gause, Willow's grandson (Pictured: Right of cover image), with second-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine, all felonies.
But after the case was presented to a grand jury, they indicted Gause last week on a more serious charge of second-degree murder.
Furthermore, the grand jury also charged 33-year-old Jarrett Gause, Justin's brother (Pictured: Left of cover image), with second-degree murder in connection with Willow's death.
That said, Jarrett Gause was arrested and booked into the Steuben County Jail, where he is remanded in custody. Meanwhile, his brother Justin was previously incarcerated in the same prison, but is currently free on bail, according to state police.
According to Steuben County DA Baker, the murder charge reflects a greater level of recklessness than a manslaughter charge, and does not mean the brothers intended to kill their grandmother.
The suspects will soon be arraigned on said charges in Steuben County Court, he added.