ANDERSON — Police arrested a second man late Tuesday for his alleged role in the slaying last week of 78-year-old John Collier of Elwood.
Madison County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Jeffrey L. Guffey, 38, New Castle, at about 7:15 p.m. at the Henry County Sheriff’s Department. Guffey was arrested on suspicion of arson, a Class D felony, and aiding and assisting a criminal, a Class C felony, Sheriff Ron Richardson said.
Guffey is the brother of Jerry H. Guffey, who is being held without bond for allegedly slitting Collier’s throat inside Collier’s Elwood home at 400 N. 11th St., likely either late Wednesday, July 9, or early Thursday, July 10. Jerry Guffey turns 53 Wednesday.
“(Jeffrey Guffey’s) arrest stems from the burning of John Collier’s vehicle in an attempt to hide evidence of another crime,” Richardson said.
Jerry Guffey had not been charged with any crime as of Tuesday. Prosecutors have until Thursday to file charges or release him from custody. They’ve indicated he will likely be charged with murder, punishable by 45 to 65 years in prison if he is found guilty.
According to court documents filed in Jerry Guffey’s case:
Jerry Guffey drove Collier’s Ford Crown Victoria to his son’s New Castle home either late Wednesday or early Thursday. Jeffrey Guffey was at Jerry H. Guffey Jr.’s home drinking beer with his nephew when his brother arrived.
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 vehicle because it had been involved in the homicide.
The three siphoned about seven gallons of gas from the car and placed the fuel into cans. Jeffrey Guffey then drove off in the vehicle and returned on foot to the home about an hour later.
Henry County emergency officials responded to a report of a car fire at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday in the 5400 block of North 175 East. Despite the fire damage, the last five digits of the car’s vehicle identification number could be read and matched those from Collier’s vehicle. Officials also found a wallet near the car containing Jeff Guffey’s ID card, birth certificate and Social Security card.
Jeffrey Guffey was being held on $20,000 surety-only bond late Tuesday. He could make an initial court appearance as early as Wednesday.
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What’s next?
Jeffrey L. Guffey, 38, the brother of Jerry H. Guffey, was arrested on suspicion of arson and assisting a criminal late Tuesday. He could make an initial court appearance as early as Wednesday. Jerry Guffey is suspected of killing 78-year-old John L. Collier of Elwood last week.
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Madison County homicides during 2008:
March 2: Kristina Lamberson, 26, 1647 Main St., Elwood, was shot to death inside her apartment by her estranged husband.
March 21: Fredricka J. Smith, 67, 4801 E. County Road 67, Anderson, was shot inside a home at 808 Nichol Ave. by her ex-husband.
April 23: Cynthia Achenbach, 24, 405 E. Cross St., Anderson, was shot to death in front of her estranged husband’s home at 2024 Charles St.
June 5: Andre L. Blackmon, 36, 2106 Noble St., Anderson, was shot inside his apartment by a masked man purportedly during a drug deal gone awry, according to investigators.
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