ANDERSON — Prosecutors have asked for an extra three days to file a formal murder charge against Jerry H. Guffey, and the Madison County Coroner’s Office officially ruled 78-year-old John Collier’s death a homicide.
Guffey, 52, dressed in a black-and-white jail jumpsuit, made an initial court appearance Monday, where he told Madison County Magistrate Stephen Clase he’s not responsible for Collier’s death.
“I didn’t do this,” Guffey said after Clase read the allegations against him.
Guffey is being held without bond, but has not been charged with any crime. Prosecutors have until Thursday to file formal counts.
Coroner Ned Dunnichay said Collier’s death has been ruled a homicide, and he died of a sharp cut to the neck.
According to a five-page probable cause affidavit filed Monday:
Discovered by his grandson at about 3 p.m. Friday, detectives found Collier lying face down inside the enclosed porch of his home at 400 N. 11th St., Elwood. Dried blood covered Collier’s head, chest and back. His throat had been cut from the left side of his Adam’s apple to the right side of his neck, continuing around before stopping at his spine.
Collier’s girlfriend told police she last spoke to him Wednesday evening, when he said Guffey was at his home drunk, trying to sell him a necklace and threatening to “beat the (expletive) out of him,” according to the affidavit. The girlfriend said Collier was scared of Guffey and he bought the necklace to get Guffey to leave.
Several of Guffey’s neighbors told investigators they saw Guffey park a car at his home late Wednesday matching a description of Collier’s white Ford Crown Victoria. The neighbors said Guffey was alone.
On Thursday, the investigation turned to Henry County, after a New Castle woman told police she had been the victim of a hit-and-run. The woman did not see the murder, but told police her neighbor, Jerry Guffey Jr., alerted her to it.
The neighbor told investigators that Jerry Guffey Jr. told her his father showed up at his house covered in blood, claiming he killed a man after discovering him cheating with his girlfriend.
Jerry Guffey Jr. ultimately told police he was drinking beer with his uncle, Jeff Guffey, inside his New Castle home late Wednesday or early Thursday when his father showed up at the residence driving a vehicle similar to a Ford Crown Victoria.
Jerry Guffey told his son he had “cut someone’s head off and took the car,” according to the affidavit. Jerry Guffey said he needed to get rid of the car, and the three began talking about how to dispose of it. They siphoned about seven gallons of gas from the car, and Jeff Guffey drove off in the vehicle.
Early Thursday morning, Henry County officials discovered a burning car in the 5400 block of North 175 East. Despite the fire damage, the last five numbers of the car’s vehicle identification number could be read and they matched Collier’s vehicle. They also found a wallet near the car with Jeff Guffey’s ID card, birth certificate and Social Security card.
Elwood police arrested Jerry Guffey shortly after 10 p.m. Friday in the 900 block of South B Street. He refused to talk to detectives, and asked for an attorney. Jerry Guffey called Collier his best friend when informed he was being arrested.
Prosecutor Thomas Broderick Jr. declined to comment on whether any others will be charged in connection with Collier’s death. Henry County Prosecutor Kit Crane said Monday he had not received any police reports, and it’s too early to determine if any charges will be filed there.
“To speculate about any charges in Henry County would be just that — speculation,” he said.
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