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Rick White, an Illinois State Police special agent, told The Crittenden Press earlier this week that Carl Crouch, 59, of Harrisburg was allegedly murdered by his stepson, Charles Ryan, on Friday. White said the victim's wife told him the couple recently moved from Crittenden County to Harrisburg.
"Carl's wife, (Donna), told me they had moved from Turkey Knob in the past year," White said in an e-mail to The Press.
Crouch's obituary identified him a former resident and native of Livingston County, having been born in Smithland.
Ryan, 41, of Harrisburg was arrested Friday night and booked into Saline County, Ill., Jail on a preliminary charge of first-degree murder, according The Evansville Courier and Press. After an autopsy on Crouch was performed over the weekend, the Saline County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a count of murder today that alleges Ryan choked and stabbed Crouch with the intent to kill.
Ryan remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bond or $100,000 cash.
The Evansville newspaper reported the Crouches had moved to Illinois to live with Ryan and his wife.
The Southern Illinoisian reports police were called to Ryan's home around 9 p.m., to investigate a suspected murder. Authorities found Carl Crouch's lifeless body upon entering the home. The Evansville report says Bonnie Crouch was in Kentucky earlier that day and tried to reach her husband by phone several times to no avail. Upon returning home that evening, she reportedly found her husband dead of multiple stab wounds.
Ryan was found in Murphysboro, Ill., a short time later after a report to local police about a naked man on the porch of a home, the Evansville paper reported. Upon apprehending Ryan, local authorities discovered the man was wanted in questioning related to Crouch's death.
There is no clear motive at this time.
Funeral service for Crouch, a U.S. Army veteran and retired river boat pilot for both Ingram Towing and Ohio Valley Towing, will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Keeling Family Funeral Home in Paducah with the Rev. Paul Peck officiating.
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISIAN Pictured above is the Harrisburg, Ill., home where Carl Crouch, 59, was reportedly found stabbed to death Friday night by his stepson, Charles Ryan, 41. |
