Renfroe Says "Voice" Led Him to Kill Jennings County Couple

Renfroe Says "Voice" Led Him to Kill Jennings County Couple

Court documents reveal that seventeen year old double murder suspect Ryan Renfroe of Columbus indicated that a "voice" inside his head told him to kill 69 year-old Gregg Gough. Shortly therafter, he alledgedly killed the man's 66 year-old wife, Marguirite. The Jennings County couple were found slain in their home late Tuesday night by local authorities. Renfroe Appeared in Jennings Circuit Court Friday afternoon before Judge Jon Webster. According to court reports, Renfroe spent that Tuesday afternoon shooting guns in the Gough's backyard when the teen borrowed Gough's red Camaro to retrieve earplugs from a friend's house.

After being invited to, and staying for dinner, Renfroe was helping with cleaning up several guns when the killing allegedly occured. While walking to another room in the home, documents indicate that Renfroe heard a voice in his head ordering him to shoot and kill Gough. Acting on the order, he pushed Gough against a wall and shot him twice in the head with a 9mm pistol, killing him. Renfroe then walked into a nearby room where he shot and killed wheelchair-bound Marguirite. After stealing money, guns and the Camaro, court records say Renfroe decided to drive to Texas to commit suicide. Shortly after driving away from the Gough's home, he crashed the car on County Road 850 South in Jennings County.

According to court reports, Renfroe walked to a nearby house and got a ride to a truckstop. It was there where he was apprehended by Indiana State Police who had already discovered the car, but not the murders. It was during Renfroe's interview with ISP that authorities learned about the car's ownership and contacted Jennings County authorities to check in on the Gough's. During Friday's hearing in Jennings Circuit Court, Judge Jon Webster advised Renfroe of his rights and read the charges against him. The former Columbus East student is facing two counts of murder, robbery with a deadly weapon, automobile theft and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

North Vernon attorney, Michael Rogers was appointed to defend Renfroe. Jennings County Prosecutor Alan Marshall requested the maximum penalty for the 17 year-old, being charged as an adult. If convicted, he could face life in prison with no possibility for parole. Renfroe's next court date is scheduled for Monday, November 16 at 11 a.m.

Reporter Brian Sanders, with our news gathering partners at "The Republic" contributed to this story.