Accused murderer pleads not guilty

The Monroe County man accused of murdering two men in late March is pleading not guilty.\nAuthorities arrested Jerry E. Pelfree, 51, after receiving a tip about two bodies located in steel drums on Pelfree’s property in the 6000 block of West Ison Road. \nAccording to the Monroe County Circuit Court, Judge Marc Kellems entered Pelfree into a preliminary plea of not guilty Tuesday afternoon. Pelfree’s pre-trial conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 13. Monroe County Attorney Ron Chapman, who could not be reached for comment by press time, will be representing Pelfree. \nPolice discovered the bodies after receiving a tip from an informant, Troy D. Harden, 37, who has been incarcerated in Monroe County Jail since June 21 for various charges, including battery of a police officer and possession of cocaine. Harden told authorities he was present at the time of the murders, according to the probable cause affidavit filed Sept 17. \nThe bodies were identified earlier this week as Douglas A. Brown, 23, and Everett L. Shaw. 34. Both died from gunshot wounds to the head.\nBoth Brown and Shaw had previously served time in Monroe \nCounty Jail. Shaw was last booked into the Monroe County Jail in 1999 for public intoxication. Brown was arrested in 2006 for driving with a suspended license and failure to appear.\nMonroe County Sheriff Jim Kennedy said he didn’t know if anybody else would be charged in connection to this case. He said if anyone else was charged, it would not happen until after the trial begins.\nHarden told authorities that he was with Pelfree, Brown and Shaw when they acquired a stolen all-terrain vehicle they intended to exchange for drugs. Brown had previously been in a relationship with Pelfree’s daughter, Michelle Ritter, and threatened to kill her after they broke-up, according to the affidavit.\nAuthorities believe Pelfree shot Brown and Shaw in the head with a .22 caliber rifle, according to the probable cause affidavit. Harden helped Pelfree move the victim’s bodies into the steel drums, according to the affidavit. Harden said Pelfree used a sledge hammer to break the bodies down so they would fit.\nSept. 14, officers received a search warrant for Pelfree’s and his daughter’s homes. They found the bodies in steel drums on Pelfree’s property. Authorities also recovered a .22 caliber rifle from Pelfree’s daughter’s home, located in the 800 block of Lemon Lane. \nThe bodies were transported to Terre Haute Regional Hospital for a medical examination.\nAfter Pelfree was taken into custody, he told the Monroe County Jail officer that he kills people when he gets angry.\nPelfree is currently being held without bond at the Monroe County Jail.