Paynesville man pleads guilty to killing grandparents
Gregory Scheel, 33, of Paynesville, Minnesota was charged Monday with two counts of second-degree murder for allegedly killing his grandparents.
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (KMSP) - A 34-year-old Paynesville, Minn. man has pleaded guilty to two counts of murder for killing his grandparents earlier this year, according to the Stearns County Attorney's Office.
In April, a Stearns County Grand Jury indicted Gregory Allen Scheel for four counts of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, however Minnesota law dictates he can only be sentenced one count per victim.
According to the criminal complaint, Gregory lived with his grandparents Wilbert and Gloria Scheel in Paynesville. In March, family members reported Wilbert and Gloria as missing after they did not come to a family dinner. After completing a welfare check, investigators found possible blood in the garage and saw the couple's Prius was missing. After issuing a BCA crime alert, authorities received a report of a Prius found in Colfax Township in Kandiyohi County. Investigators found Gloria and Wilbert's bodies in the car and later found Gregory walking nearby.
The counts Gregory Scheel pleaded guilty to have mandatory life sentences. He is expected to serve the two counts consecutively. He will not be eligible for parole for at least 60 years.
His formal sentencing is scheduled for October 4.