Murder Charges Filed in McClendon Slayings

Chicago - Murder charges were filed Thursday morning against two Hammond teens charged in the slayings of Ruby and Milton McClendon.

Gregory Brooks, Jr., 18, and Reo Thompson, 17, are each charged with four counts of murder in the perpetration of a burglary and two counts of murder in the perpetration of a robbery, according to a release from the Lake County, Ind. prosecutor's office.

The charges are in addition to previous charges of two counts of robbery, two counts of burglary, four counts of confinement and auto theft, the release said. If convicted, each face a maximum 130-year prison term.

Prosecutors allege the teens beat 78-year-old Milton McClendon and his 76-year-old wife, Ruby; stole $50 in cash, a rifle, jewelry and other items; then locked the couple in a closet.

Brooks and Thompson, who claim they were with a third suspect named Kevin Langley, left the residence, then returned to "finish off" the McClendons, according to charging documents.

The McClendons' bodies were found Oct. 19 about two miles from their home in a Calumet City forest preserve. Ruby McClendon was shot multiple times, while Milton McClendon was killed by a single shot to the head.

The teens reportedly have blamed each other for the shootings, and charging affidavits do not detail the killings. Murder charges had not been filed as of Wednesday afternoon against either teen, and investigators do not believe Kevin Langley is a real person.

Brooks and Thompson were seen by multiple witnesses riding in the McClendons' stolen Cadillac El Dorado in the days after the killings, and were captured on surveillance video selling jewelry stolen from the McClendons at a Hammond pawn shop.

The car was found abandoned on the Dan Ryan Expy. near 55th Street, and a witness described two males walking away from the car, which had run out of gas, prosecutors said.

Brooks and Thompson were extradited from Cook County on Tuesday and appeared Wednesday before Magistrate Natalie Bokota in Lake Superior Court, according to the Lake County Prosecutor's office.

At the initial hearing, the magistrate entered the automatic not guilty pleas for the pair, who are charged with two counts each of robbery and burglary, four counts each of confinement, and one count each of auto theft, according to the prosecutor's office. Public defenders were appointed for both teens.

Bond had been set in their arrests warrants at $250,000 each, according to prosecutor's office spokeswoman Diane Poulton.

The court on Thursday also granted a defense request for a protective order prohibiting the parties, counsel, law enforcement officials and court personnel from disseminating information or releasing any extra judicial statements by means of public communication, according to a release.

Brooks will appear in court on Friday, according to the release, which stated his formal appearance was initially set on Nov. 6 but was moved up. Brooks will appear at 8:35 a.m.