Murder alleged in Doniphan, Mo., shootings, fire

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Three people were charged Tuesday with fatally shooting an elderly couple whose bodies were found in their burned-down home in 2010.

The charges came after the case was reopened when the same people were charged with a similar crime against another older couple.

Charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action were filed in Ripley County against David Youngblood, 47; his daughter, Chantale Youngblood, 19; and her boyfriend, Keith Boyles, 19. All are from Doniphan.

They are accused in the deaths of Loyd Piatt, 77, and his 80-year-old wife, Gladys Irene Piatt, who were David Youngblood's uncle and aunt.

Authorities initially believed the Piatts died when their Doniphan area home caught on fire on June 23, 2010.

But their bodies were exhumed a month later for an autopsy after another older couple -- 81-year-old Edgar Atkinson and 69-year-old Bonnie Chase -- were found dead on July 10, 2010, in their burning home in Ripley County. Authorities determined Atkinson and Chase had been shot before their home was set on fire, and they charged Boyles and the Youngbloods with killing them.

David Youngblood's wife, Melissa Youngblood, also was charged in that case, although she was not charged the Piatts' death.

In a probable cause statement filed in court, police said autopsies confirmed the Piatts also had been shot before their home was set on fire. The police statement said Melissa Youngblood and an unnamed juvenile who was a friend of Chantale Youngblood implicated the other three people in the deaths.

Boyles and the Youngbloods pleaded not guilty to murdering Atkinson and Chase. Attorneys for the three people charged in the Piatts deaths were not in their offices Tuesday and did not immediately return messages seeking comments about the latest charges.

Pertinent address:

Doniphan, Mo.