7 years ago by Jim Dewey
Derek Tepen and Kayla Howard face charges in death of Gavin Bland of Milton
Two Calhoun County, Illinois residents, arrested as part of an investigation into the death of a Milton man on March 4th, have now been charged with Drug-Induced Homicide.
The new charge against 30 year old Derek Tepen of Hardin and 26 year old Kayla Howard of Batchtown was introduced during a hearing Tuesday in Pike County, IL Circuit Court. The pair were charged in connection with the death of Gavin R Bland of Milton, IL. In a statement, Pike County, IL Sheriff Paul Petty says that the two were the latst two people to see Bland alive the night of the 4th. Pike and Calhoun County authorities executed a search warrant Saturday morning at a home near Batchtown, where the pair were arrested. Authorities also found a number of illegal drugs including Heroin and Meth, as well as electronic devices, cash and drug paraphernalia. Petty says the search warrant and arrests stemmed from the investigation into Bland's death. Tepen and Howard are in the Pike County Jail, and their bond has now been set at $200,000 each. They'll have a preliminary hearing April 4.
In a statement, Petty says that the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are expected in both the Pike and Calhoun Counties.
