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Last updated on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
(LAWRENCEVILLE, ILL.) - Two people arrested in connection with the murder of an elderly Wabash Valley man made their appearance in court.
Mike Grant, of WTHI, reports authorities in Lawrence County, Illinois officially filed charges of murder against 20 year old Tyler McQueen of Mount Carmel and 48 year old Helen Westall of Bridgeport was charged with solicitation of murder for hire.
The charges stem from March 25th murder of 78 year old Robert Westall in his home in Lawrenceville.
The murder makes no sense to a friend of victim, and the arrests make less sense to a family member of the accused.
Tyler McQueen now faces formal charges of murder, his co-defendent Helen Westall charges of solicitation of murder in connection with the killing of her uncle Robert Westall in Lawrenceville last month.
A close friend of Westall's found him in the retirement village where he died and she is still trying to sort it all out.
"I have no idea what the motive is or why they would do something like this," said Debra Barekman.
While the murder of Robert Westall make no sense to his friend, one of the family members of the people accused of killing him says the arrest makes even less sense.
"As far as I know they have no evidence," said Tyler McQueen's brother Ethan. "There's nothing there for them to hold my brother. All they have is a signature on a piece of paper from a nut."
While police have not given out many details they do claim that Helen Westall offered $10,000 in cash and a used car for the murder of her uncle.
"Somebody said she hired somebody to do this and I would just like to see justice," said Barekman.
Justice for an elderly man killed in his own home in quiet retirement village.
Both Helen Westall and Tyler McQueen are being held in the Lawrence County Jail, in Illinois, on $50-million bond each.
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