CRAWFORD COUNTY (KFSM) - The two Rudy suspects accused of killing and burying a 19-year-old Alma man were charged Monday with capital murder, according to Crawford County Prosecutor Marc McCune.
Jonathan Bridgewater, 27, and Nicholas Barrows, 19, remain in the Crawford County Jail on $250,000 bond. The suspects have an arraignment scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty in the case, McCune said.
The two half-brothers were arrested June 30 after authorities, acting on a tip, found the body of Jamison Lee Plum buried in a shallow grave behind a house in Rudy, officials said. Authorities said Plum died of several gunshot wounds.
The suspects also had a firearm enhancement added onto their capital murder charges. Using a firearm in a crime can increase any sentence by an additional 15 years, McCune said. Barrows was also charged with possession of prohibited weapons, a Class B felony that carries a sentence of five to 20 years in prison.
The prohibited weapons charge came after Crawford County deputies found three unexploded pipe bombs while searching Barrows' home, according to the Crawford County prosecutor.
Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown said a tip came in June 29 that a body was buried in a grave behind the house in Rudy. Property records show the house is owned by Chester and Virgin Bridgewater.
After serving a search warrant, deputies found the body, Brown said.
According to a probably cause affidavit, Barrows shot the suspect in the woods on June 24 or June 25, believing he had raped someone Barrows knows. That female was in a juvenile detention facility, the affidavit states.
An eyewitness who heard two gunshots and screams was shown the body by Bridgewater, the affidavit states. The eyewitness’ name is redacted from the affidavit.
Court documents state Bridgewater told the eyewitness he was wearing the victim’s black Nike Shox sneakers and that Barrows had his wallet. Barrows was seen coming out of the woods after the shooting, holding a shotgun and limping, the affidavit states.
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