UPDATE (As of 5 :11 p.m., July 9): Benjamin Roy Naylor, the suspect in custody for the deaths of four people in Cassia and Minidoka Counties, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder.
Naylor appeared in court in both Minidoka and Cassia counties on Wednesday and was ordered to remain in custody without bond. A state public defender will represent Naylor moving forward. A preliminary hearing will be held in Cassia County on July 18th, followed by another in Minidoka County on July 23.
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Cassia County Prosecuting Attorney McCord Larsen praised law enforcement agencies for working together to ensure the public's safety. "We are grateful for the swift response and professional work of all officers involved," said Larsen in a release.
In that same release, Minidoka County Prosecuting Attorney Lance Stevenson pledged that the two counties will work together to "seek justice for the victims and their families."
This homicide investigation spans multiple jurisdictions and agencies, including the Rupert Police Department, Minidoka County Sheriff's Office, Cassia County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Heyburn Police Department, Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, and Idaho State Police.
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Authorities are investigating four related homicides that occurred on Tuesday, July 8, in Rupert and the surrounding areas of Cassia and Minidoka counties.
The investigation began Tuesday afternoon when emergency crews were dispatched to 1024 F Street in Rupert following a report of a possibly deceased female. Officials arrived to find suspicious circumstances, prompting a police investigation into a potential homicide.
Later that day, two additional homicide victims were found in Cassia County, and another was discovered inside a vehicle in Minidoka County.
The Minidoka and Cassia County sheriff's offices, along with the Rupert Police Department and Heyburn Police, are assisting in the investigation. The agencies collaborated and quickly located the suspect, 56-year-old Ben Naylor of Burley, who has since been taken into custody.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
