Preliminary hearing for triple-homicide suspect scheduled for end of November

WARSAW — A preliminary hearing for the man charged with killing three Cole Camp residents in June was scheduled for Nov. 30 in Benton County Circuit Court.

Robert B. Blurton, 45, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Donald, Sharon and Taron Luetjen, who were each found dead from a single gunshot wound in their Cole Camp home in June.

Blurton last appeared in court Aug. 18, when he requested a continuance to meet attorneys from a branch within the state public defender system that handles capital offense cases.

On Tuesday, Blurton met with capital crimes division attorney Charles Mooreland, Judge Mark B. Pilley and Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Karen Woodley to set a preliminary hearing for the case. At the preliminary hearing, Woodley plans to present evidence to show the judge that the state has sufficient evidence to believe Blurton committed the crime before he could be bound over for trial.

The hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. Nov. 30.

Benton County Sheriff Rick Fajen said Blurton was recently transferred to Saline County Jail for improved security. Blurton remains in jail in lieu of a $3 million bond.

Fajen also said investigators with the Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Cole Camp Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate the case. Authorities are searching for at least one additional person involved in the deaths of the Luetjens.