Ellington Couple Slain: Duo Arrested, Death Penalty To Be Sought

ELLINGTON, MO — James Nance, 86, and his wife, Janet, 72, were shot to death earlier this month during a a robbery at their home near Ellington, Missouri, authorities have said. The couple's 73-year-old friend survived being twice shot in the head.

Because there was evidence that the crimes were planned ahead of time, Reynolds County prosecutor Michael Randazzo told The Associated Press on Monday he will pursue the death penalty against Timothy Callahan, 44, of Farmington, Missouri, and David Young, 67, of Ironton, Missouri.

The duo was arrested Saturday at a motel in Deerfield Township, Ohio, near Cincinnati. Both were charged with two counts each of first-degree murder.

Randazzo said he will file additional charges of armed criminal action, robbery and assault against both men, who were jailed without bond in Ohio awaiting extradition.

Young was on probation after pleading guilty in 2016 to financial exploitation of the elderly or disabled in Pulaski County, according to Missouri Case Net, the state's online court reporting system. He was arrested again in September and charged with scamming an elderly couple out of thousands of dollars by convincing them to write multiple checks for the same job — painting their barn.

"He would drive around looking for decent-looking homes, elderly couples, and try to do work for them," Randazzo said.

Authorities believe the men may have originally planned a similar scam on the Nances. Randazzo said it appeared they had contacted the couple about doing work at their home, but ultimately decided instead to rob James Nance.

Randazzo said the robbery was in progress when Janet Nance and her friend returned home from a shopping trip and encountered the gunmen.

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