Springfield man charged in former teacher's death

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Springfield man was charged Tuesday with killing a retired teacher and school principal whose body was found in the cellar of the small home in which the retiree grew up.

Kristofer Brendan Warden, 27, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Gaylen Terrill, 57.

According to court documents, the body was found Monday after an acquaintance of Warden's told a Greene County sheriff's detective that Warden had asked for help moving and burying a body.

Warden was arrested Monday in Branson and was turned over to the Springfield Police Department. The Greene County prosecutor has asked that Warden be held without bond.

According to court documents, Warden told a Springfield police officer that he bound Terrill with electrical cords in the basement of Terrill's home and asked for the personal identification number for his credit card.

Warden allegedly told the officer that he eventually began injecting different household chemicals into Terrill's body in an attempt to kill him.

When that did not work, Warden, fearing he might spend the rest of his life in prison for kidnapping and aggravated assault, strangled Terrill, Warden allegedly told the police officer.

According to court documents, Warden also told the officer that he had been staying at Terrill's home and that they had an ongoing dispute.