Kyle DeHart

Kyle David DeHart, 23, 11136 N. CR 450E, Syracuse, has been preliminarily charged with two counts of murder and obstruction of justice. There is no bond. The charges stem from the early morning Feb. 19 murder of Tara Thornburg and Josh Knisley.

The latest charges against DeHart were filed Friday in Kosciusko County Circuit Court by county prosecuting attorney, Daniel H. Hampton. Judge Michael Reed, who found probable cause, issued the warrant.

DeHart is already incarcerated in the Kosciusko County Jail after he was arrested the afternoon of the murders on two outstanding misdemeanor warrants: failure to appear and battery causing bodily injury. His bond was set  at $1 million cash on those charges.

Brandon Thomas Woody, 22, 605 North St., Syracuse, was arrested on Thursday afternoon and has officially been charged with two counts of murder. He is also being held without bond.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, filed with the courts on Thursday, in relation to the arrest of his mother, Joan DeHart, Kyle DeHart and Brandon Woody and Thomas Hursey were together the night of the murder. The three went to Thornburg’s home at 305 W. Main St., Syracuse, with the intention of stealing marijuana from her.

The court records state Hursey told police what Woody and DeHart were wearing and how they planned on using tape and utility knife to restrain Thornburg and cut her throat. At the residence, Thornburg gave Woody one ounce of marijuana, who gave the drug to DeHart. Woody then winked at DeHart.

Court records state Woody hit Thornburg in the face and then shot her with a handgun also in the face. The gun jammed with unspent cartridges falling on the floor at the foot of the bed. Kyle DeHart and Hursey then ran downstairs when they heard another shot. The three then left the residence in Kyle DeHart’s vehicle, with Kyle DeHart driving. Woody at that time said he had shot Knisley.

Kyle DeHart drove Woody and Hursey to his residence where items were burned in the backyard of the DeHart property. The three slept at the home of DeHart’s parents, Scott and Joan.

Joan DeHart allegedly drove Woody to Eastgate Apartments, Warsaw, where Kyle DeHart later drove to pick up Woody. DeHart then allegedly drove the two to Mishawaka.

Woody reportedly told police, at the time of his arrest on Feb. 19, that he had been with Kyle DeHart from Feb. 17 until his apprehension the afternoon of Feb. 19. It was a short time after Woody’s arrest they located and arrested Kyle DeHart at a residence in Mishawaka, a short distance from the One Stop Gas Station, Mishawaka.

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