Charges Filed for Farmhouse Murders in Southwestern Minnesota

BALATON, Minn. (AP) — Three young men are charged in a farmhouse fire in southwestern Minnesota that killed a couple in their 70s.

The three defendants are from Lyon County — 20-year-old Derek Hexum of Balaton, 18-year-old Theodore Como of Marshall and 21-year-old Kyle Wesselink of Tyler. All three appeared in court Monday and remain jailed.

The Star Tribune reports Hexum and Como were each charged with second-degree murder, arson and armed burglary. Wesselink was charged with arson, burglary and receiving stolen property.

The fire Thursday in Balaton killed 75-year-old Jim Hively and his 71-year-old wife, Cathy. The farmhouse was burglarized.