1 pleads guilty to murder of Earl Olander, 2nd backs out of plea deal
CHASKA, Minn. (KMSP) - One of the two men expected to plead guilty in the homicide death of a 90-year-old bachelor farmer in San Francisco Township near Chaska, Minn. has decided not to take the plea deal. The men were expected to be sentenced Thursday.
Earl Olander was found dead with his hands bound at his 320-acre farm last April, where he bailed hay to sell in Belle Plaine once a week. There were no signs of a break-in at his rural home.
BACKGROUND - Plea deal in death of 90-year-old bachelor farmer, found with hands bound
Reinol Godines Vergara, 35, of Richfield, Minn. and Edson Celin Dominguez Benitez, 29, of St. Paul were both charged with second-degree murder. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had put detainers on both of them, which indicates they were suspected of being illegal immigrants.
Vergara pled guilty Thursday to aiding and abetting murder of Olander. He faces 37 years in prison. Benitez decided not to take the plea deal.
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