3 Teens Charged in Brutal Murder of 79 yo Lila Warwick

[MuffyBee]

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/3-teens-charged-in-death-of-Minnesota-woman-79-4703965.php
3 teens charged in death of Minnesota woman, 79
August 2, 2013


This photo provided by Cheri Ekbom shows her mother, Lila Warwick. Three teens were charged Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, with murder in the death of Warwick, a church volunteer, who was found strangled and stabbed in her Willmar, Minn., home on Monday. Photo: Courtesy Cheri Ekbom

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three teens were charged with murder Friday in the brutal death of a 79-year-old central Minnesota woman who was ambushed in her house, forced to write a check to her attacker, choked, then stabbed repeatedly with a sword-like knife, according to details in a criminal complaint.

Brok Junkermeier, 19, was charged with intentional second-degree murder, without premeditation, on Friday in Kandiyohi County District Court. Two other teens — ages 16 and 17 — were charged as juveniles. They each face two counts of aiding and abetting murder.

The charges say one of the teens believed Lila Warwick had more than $40,000 in a safe and they had been planning to kill her and steal her money for some time.

Warwick was found in her Wilmar home Monday night after authorities went to check on her welfare. Someone called authorities after she failed to show up at a meeting at Redeemer Lutheran Church, where she was a volunteer.

"Upon entering into the garage and home, deputies found evidence of homicidal violence and found the body of Ms. Warwick who was deceased," one of the juvenile petitions said. Preliminary autopsy results showed she died from complex homicidal violence involving multiple stab wounds and strangulation.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, two witnesses told authorities they heard Junkermeier talk previously about killing Warwick and stealing her money, but both thought he was joking. One of the witnesses said that the day after the killing, Junkermeier came to him and talked about the burglary and attack.

According to the charges, Junkermeier told his friend that he and another teen drove to Warwick's house early Monday. Junkermeier had previously obtained a key to get into Warwick's garage, and went inside wearing a mask and gloves while the teen stayed in the car as a lookout. Junkermeier waited two hours for Warwick to enter the garage, then ambushed her and slashed her hand with a 20-inch knife.

Junkermeier told his friend that while Warwick was bleeding, he forced her to access her bank account online and write him a check for $1,500. Prosecutors say Junkermeier later deposited that money into his account.

Junkermeier told his friend he then began to strangle Warwick, and when he saw she was not dead, he stabbed her multiple times then brought or threw her into the basement, the charges said. Later that day, Junkermeier and one of the teens returned to Warwick's house and took a safe.
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[Sister]

After reading the article, someone explain to me why this is not first degree. . . there was premediation!
 

so sad for her family and friends.
 

[MuffyBee]

One of the three charged with murder is Ms. Warwick's own grandson!!!   

http://www.wctrib.com/content/three-teens-including-grandson-charged-willmar-minn-murder-bail-one-set-2-million
Three teens, including grandson, charged with Willmar, Minn., murder; bail for one set at $2 million
August 2, 2013

WILLMAR — Judge Michael J. Thompson set unconditional bail at $2 million and conditional bail at $1 million for Brok Nathaniel Junkermeier, 19, of Willmar who made his first court appearance in Kandiyohi County District Court this morning on a charge of second-degree murder with intent not premeditated for the Monday stabbing and strangulation death of Lila Mae Warwick, 79, of Willmar.

Thompson set bail at the high levels due to the risk to public safety and because Junkermeier was considered a possible flight risk. He appeared without an attorney

Also, Judge Donald Spilseth ordered that two juveniles charged in the case, Devon James Jenkins, 16, and Robert Inocencio Warwick, 17, both of Willmar, continue to be held in the Prairie Lakes Juveniles Detention Center in Willmar. They appeared at separate juvenile detention hearings.

Both juveniles are charged with second-degree murder with intent not premeditated and liability for crimes of another.

The juvenile petition against Robert Warwick states that Warwick was the mastermind of the plan to rob and kill his grandmother, Lila Warwick, and believed she had a safe in the house with access to $40,000.
 

Criminal Complaint Filed Against Junkermeier
http://www.scribd.com/doc/157704746/Criminal-complaint-filed-against-Junkermeier

Criminal Complaint Filed Against Robert Warwick
http://www.scribd.com/doc/157728887/Juvenile-petition-against-Robert-Warwick

Criminal Complaint Filed Against Devon Jenkins
http://www.scribd.com/doc/157729719/Juvenile-petition-against-Devon-Jenkins

[MuffyBee]

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/407925/group/News/
Teens, including grandson, charged in brutal murder of 79-year-old MN woman
WILLMAR, Minn. – Three Willmar teenagers made separate appearances Friday in Kandiyohi County District Court on murder charges relating to the strangulation and stabbing death of Lila Mae Warwick, 79, of Willmar.
August 2, 2013


 
Kandiyohi County Attorney Jennifer Fischer said Friday that her office has turned prosecution of the Junkermeier case over to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

Fischer said her office will continue to prosecute the other two teens: Devon James Jenkins, 16, and Robert Inocencio Warwick, 17.

In separate hearings, Judge Donald Spilseth ordered Jenkins and Warwick to continue to be held at Prairie Lakes Youth Program detention center in Willmar. The juveniles were also in restraints.

A hearing to certify Jenkins to stand trial as an adult is scheduled Aug. 29 and there will be a similar hearing Aug. 30 for Warwick.

Both are charged with second-degree murder with intent-not premeditated and liability for crimes of another.

The juvenile delinquency petition filed against Robert Warwick states he was the mastermind of the plan to rob and kill Lila Warwick, his grandmother, and believed she had a safe in the house with access to $40,000.

Matthew Frank, assistant attorney general, told the court the attack was cold-blooded.

Bradley Junkermeier, Brok Junkermeier’s father, issued a statement to re-porters after his son’s appearance.

“My family and I want to convey our deepest, deepest sympathy condolences to the victims, friends and family for this horrific catastrophe,” he said.

Police discover body

The petition states the sheriff’s office received a call at 5:09 p.m. Monday to check on Lila Warwick, who lived alone at 3079 Highway 12 E. She did not arrive at church for a 3:30 p.m. meeting, which was uncharacteristic of her.

Deputies saw the windows and doors to the property were secure. They called Robert Warwick and received the overhead garage door code, making entry. There, they discovered the body of Lila Warwick.

Investigators saw the computer was on with a login screen to U.S. Bank, and information containing Lila Warwick’s name still visible on the screen.

The preliminary autopsy by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office indicat-ed Warwick died from stabbing and strangulation.

Court documents state Warwick’s daughter, Cheri Ekbom, told authorities that Robert Warwick had grown distant from his grandmother and believed she was trying to help her grandson with drug issues.

Ekbom indicated that Robert Warwick had texted her daughter, indicating he “hated grandma,” could not stand her and at one point asked how much money he would get if Warwick were to die. She believed the text message was sent around Easter weekend.

Documents state a deputy met Tuesday with an adult male identified as “A” who said he was at a friend’s house 30 to 45 days earlier and met with Junkermeier. He said Junkermeier admitted he, Robert Warwick and another juvenile had plans to kill Warwick’s grandmother and take her money.

The adult male reported that Junkermeier had said he planned to use a sword to kill Lila Warwick. The adult male initially thought Junkermeier was joking, but he came forward when he learned of the murder.

A sheriff’s deputy talked Wednesday to another adult identified as “B” who reported that he had known Junkermeier since he was 4 years old, spoke regularly with him and considered him a friend. He said Junkermeier and Robert Warwick often hung out together. He said he had heard Junkermeier talk about a plan to kill Lila Warwick on several occasions, but also didn’t believe he was serious.

After learning Tuesday that Lila Warwick had been killed, adult male “B” talked to Junkermeier at his workplace. The complaint states Junkermeier talked for two hours and offered details of the burglary and murder.

Victim was cornered

Adult male “B” said Junkermeier had been told by Robert Warwick that his grandmother got her mail about 6:30 a.m. The complaint says Junkermeier and Jenkins arrived by car at Lila Warwick’s home at 4 a.m. and Junkermeier used a key he had obtained to gain entry through the back garage door.

When Lila Warwick entered the garage, the complaint states, she noticed a masked Junkermeier near the steps and tried to get to the door. Junkermeier struck her hand with a knife, causing her to bleed on the floor. Junkermeier directed her to her computer and told her write a $1,500 check on her U.S. Bank account, which she did.

Junkermeier then wrapped bandaging on Lila Warwick’s hand so she could type on the computer. The complaint states he then choked her, stabbed her multiple times and brought or threw her into the basement. He discarded the weapon, his footwear, the mask and gloves.

Junkermeier deposited the check into his Bremer Bank account, with the guarantee Robert Warwick would receive $700. At 2 p.m. Monday, Junkermeier and Robert Warwick went to Lila Warwick’s home to take valuables and obtained a small safe.

Junkermeier was apprehended without incident Wednesday while working at the West Central Tribune, where he was employed in the mailroom. He confirmed many of the details authorities had learned from adult male “B” and provided information on the location of the weapon used to stab Lila Warwick.

Devon Jenkins was interviewed Wednesday and Robert Warwick was interviewed Thursday. Both confirmed Junkermeier’s involvement.

Jenkins was interviewed and admitted being with Junkermeier early Monday morning and fell asleep in Junkermeier’s car near a residence just outside Willmar. Junkermeier returned to the car and said that he killed “R.W.’s grandmother,” according to the complaint.

Jenkins also said he was aware that Junkermeier may have had a mask when he went into the residence and that he was going to kill the woman. Jenkins denied any involvement in planning the robbery and murder.

Robert Warwick was interviewed and admitted he had discussed a plan with Junkermeier for Junkermeier to rob and assault Lila Warwick and force her to write him a check. Warwick indicated he was aware that Junkermeier was going to rob and assault his grandmother, but he maintained that he was not expecting Junkermeier to kill his grandmother.

Robert Warwick said he was actually to receive $300 from the robbery, but he never received the money.

The complaint also states Junkermeier gave a ride to an unidentified juvenile. The juvenile told an investigator that Junkermeier displayed his bloody palm and an approximately 20-inch knife covered in blood.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.wctrib.com/content/family-and-friends-remember-lila-warwicks-life
Family and friends remember Lila Warwick's life
August 3, 2013

The family and friends gathered Saturday in Willmar to remember Lila Mae Warwick as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, community volunteer, Sunday school teacher, long-time Willmar Manufacturing employee, exercise partner and friend.

The 79-year-old grandmother was killed Monday during a robbery of her home on the outskirts of Willmar that was allegedly planned by her 17-year-old grandson.

Robert I. Warwick along with Brok N. Junkermeier, 19; and Devon J. Jenkins, 16, all of Willmar, were charged Friday in her death. All three remain in custody.



Funeral services were held for Lila Warwick Saturday afternoon at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in WIllmar. She will be buried at a later date at the Village Cemetery in Welcome.
 
Lila was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, financial secretary, preschool volunteer and on the board of evangelism.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.republican-eagle.com/node/1566036
Hundreds remember Willmar woman
August 6, 2013

 
An estimated 500 people attended the funeral Saturday at Willmar's Redeemer Lutheran Church for Lila Mae Warwick.

Pastor Greg Enterline said it's hard to believe that someone would take the life of a woman who cared so much about others and about her faith. He said many people are going to miss her. Enterline said Warwick left a positive impression on most people.

She served as a Sunday school teacher, financial secretary, preschool volunteer and on the board of evangelism at Redeemer.

"I suspect Lila may not have known what to think of so many people coming to her funeral,'' Enterline said Sunday. "But I think she probably would have been happy to have people hear about her savior. I know her faith was really important to her and I think she made that clear in her life. I think she would have liked people to have heard the Gospel.''

A complaint alleges Robert Warwick disliked his grandmother and believed she had more than $40,000 in a safe in her home. Police believe he and Junkermeier had been planning to kill the woman and steal her money for some time.

Junkermeier allegedly waited in the garage of the home for Warwick in the early hours of July 29. When she entered the garage, the complaint states, he forced the victim into her home. He then ordered her to write him a check for $1,500 before strangling her and stabbing her multiple times with a 20-inch blade.
 

[Sister]

This is just heartbreaking -- her own grandson!