Casey and Meredith Ledbetter Confess to Double Homicide Near Idalou; Murder Charges Pending

The two suspects in the case of a double homicide near Idalou have confessed to murdering a mother and her son. 37 year old Casey Ledbetter and 28 year old Meredith Ledbetter confessed to the murders of 26 year old Derek Hale and his 49 year old mother Joanie Parker. Investigators believe that the couple lured Parker out of her home and shot her after killing her son during a botched robbery attempt.

Hale was found dead late last month only a few days after a maintenance worker found the body of his mother outside a vacant house. Parker died from three gunshot wounds, while Hale died from blunt force trauma to the head and stab wounds. KMAC 28 reports the couple may have connections to the Aryan Brotherhood gang, but authorities sustain that the two acted on their own.

The Ledbetters are behind bars on $100,000 bail each, and could face capitol murder charges. Sherriff Kelly Rowe says murder charges are expected to be filed Monday.