A third person affiliated with an October murder case was indicted Tuesday for allegedly receiving stolen property that belonged to the deceased.
Robert Degarmore, 52, was indicted on two counts of receiving stolen property, one of which is a felony of the fifth degree with the other being a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Law enforcement officials found the body of Paul E. Roberts, 63, in a well underneath the porch of his Glouster home Oct. 21 when they arrived at the residence to arrest his son, Paul J. Roberts, 41, for vandalism.
The younger Roberts was arraigned on an indictment charging aggravated murder, vandalism and seven other charges in relation to the incident. He was also believed to have stolen his father’s personal belongings, including his 2004 Black Jeep Liberty, a John Deere lawn mower and his credit card.
Paul J. Roberts’ wife, Rhonda Degarmore, the sister of Robert Degarmore, was also indicted for stealing from her father-in-law.
“Rhonda Degarmore pled guilty to stealing the deceased Paul E. Roberts’ credit card and using it,” Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said in a news release from his office. “Degarmore also pled guilty to obstructing justice in the death of Paul E. Roberts.”
Robert Degarmore is also accused of using the credit card, Blackburn said.
Rhonda accepted a plea deal last month when she was sentenced to five years in prison, and agreed to testify against her husband in court. However, at this point in time, her brother, incarcerated in the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, has not made any similar agreements.
Paul J. Roberts is also incarcerated in the jail under a $950,000 bond, according to a previous Post article. He is due in court for a jury trial March 18.
@KellyPFisher
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