EDGEWOOD, IL — Details continue to come in regarding the death of 80-year-old Edgewood resident Roger Courson on September 26th. Clay County State’s Attorney Andrew Koester says he died as a result of strangulation, and officials said a safe, multiple firearms, and a television were taken from his residence.

It was reported Thursday afternoon that a third arrest has been made in this case. 39-year-old Jamie Charlton of Salem has been taken into custody and charged with Home Invasion, Residential Burglary, and two counts of Murder for his involvement in the death of Courson. The bond on Charlton’s warrant was set at $750,000.

Last Thursday, September 30th, 27-year-old Centralia resident Christopher Gallatin and 30-year-old Edgewood resident Walter West have been formally charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary in the case, and their bonds have been set at $2.5 million.

(original story): Two men have been formally charged in Clay County Court in connection with the death last month of an 80-year-old rural Clay County man in his home. 27-year-old Christopher Gallatin, of Centralia, and 30-year-old Walter West, of Edgewood, are accused of entering the Roger Courson’s Edgewood home, causing his death then taking a safe, several guns, and a TV.

A family member found Courson’s body September 26th and notified law enforcement. Illinois State Police report that an Effingham City Police Department Crimestoppers’ tip from the public led to the development of suspects in the case. Based on information gathered during the investigation, West and Gallatin were taken into custody on Thursday. A Clay County judge found probable cause on Friday night to detain West and Gallatin. Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 was assisted in what they are terming an “open and ongoing investigation” by the Clay County and Marion County Sheriff’s Departments and Centralia Police Department. On Monday, both men were charged with two counts each first-degree murder and one count each Class 1 residential burglary.

They both remain in the Clay County Jail awaiting the setting of bond and advisement of the charges against them.