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Garland J Nelson: Missouri man sentenced to life for BRUTALLY killing two brothers over cattle contract

Garland J Nelson owed brothers Justin and Nick Diemel $250,000 for cattle, which they were hoping to get back when they paid him a visit

BY DEEPAK KUMAR

PUBLISHED OCT 1, 2022

Garland J Nelson was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for murdering the Diemel brothers (Screenshot/Fox6)

Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised

BRAYMER, MISSOURI: A northwest Missouri man, Garland J Nelson, pleaded guilty to murdering two brothers, Justin Diemel, 24, and Nick Diemel, 35, over a cattle contract. Nelson previously pleaded not guilty but withdrew his plea. He was sentenced to two life terms behind bars Friday, September 30, in Cass County. The brothers had traveled from Wisconsin to meet Nelson in Missouri but were reported missing by their father on July 21, 2019. The last known location of the brothers was a farm in Braymer, Caldwell County, Missouri.

Nelson was originally charged with two counts of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with a motor vehicle, abandonment of a corpse, and stealing of a motor vehicle as per KMBC News. Caldwell County Prosecutor Brady Kopek explained the sentence saying Nelson, will serve those terms consecutively, ie, one right after the other, and all the other remaining charges will be dropped. In Friday's plea hearing, Nelson confessed to shooting both the brothers, putting their bodies in barrels, burning them, and dumping the remains. One set of human remains was dumped in a large pile of cow manure on his own farm, and the other set of remains was dumped in a mineral supplement bucket which was tracked down in Nebraska.

Remains of 2 brothers found 4 months after Missouri farmer killed them when they came to collect $25,000 debt

Kansas City Star further revealed after obtaining the charging documents, the trio met on July 21, 2019, to discuss a "financial issue." According to their father, Nelson owed the brothers $250,000 for cattle, and they were hoping to get that money. After a wrongful death lawsuit was filed, the family of the brothers reached a $2 million settlement. The lawsuit also mentioned Nelson's business J4S Enterprises, and his mother Tomme Fei. Prior to the murder of the brothers, Nelson was on parole following a 17-month federal prison sentence for cattle and insurance fraud.

The Diemel brothers were in town to collect a $250,000 debt stemming from a cattle deal from Nelson when they were killed. (KCTV 5) — The Diemel brothers were in town to collect a $250,000 debt stemming from a cattle deal from Nelson when they were killed (KCTV 5)

Justin Diemel, 24, was one of the brothers who was killed by Nelson. (Courtesy of the Diemel family) — Justin Diemel, 24, was one of the brothers who was killed by Nelson (Courtesy of the Diemel family)

Nicholas Diemel, 35, was also murdered by elson following a cattle contract dispute. (Courtesy of the Diemel family) — Nicholas Diemel, 35, was also murdered by Nelson following a cattle contract dispute (Courtesy of the Diemel family)

KMBC News reports Special Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Sokoloff saying, "The matter has been pending for over three years, and it is now finally over. I am hopeful that the Diemel family will now be able to return to their lives without this hanging over them. I know that no sentence will bring Nick and Justin back to them, but they can sleep knowing that Nelson will be behind bars for the rest of his life." The US Sun reports the statements that Diemel made after hearing the details of the crimes for the first time. The boys' mother, Pam Diemel said, "I’m sick to my stomach right now. Life is very empty without them here." Nick Diemel’s wife Lisa read out the last text his husband sent him which read, "Good night and I love you." Lisa said, "Nick and Justin were living their dream operating Diemel’s Livestock with their brother Brandon."