Posted on 12/12/2003 4:23:44 AM PST by Holly_P
A 16-year-old McNeal boy arrested on two counts of murder told investigators he ambushed his parents with a shotgun and buried them in shallow graves because he was sick of following household rules, authorities said.
A remorseless Zachary Eggers was arrested Thursday after he confessed to killing his parents, both Department of Corrections employees, and throwing a party the following night, said Detective Gene Wheeler of the Cochise County Sheriff's Department.
Eggers is being held in the Cochise County jail without bond on two counts of first-degree murder. He will be tried as an adult.
"Right now he's showing no remorse whatsoever," Wheeler said. "He's more upset he got caught."
Investigators found the bodies of Bradley Eggers, 43, and Delyn Eggers, 40, Wednesday in the yard of their home, 6900 N. Indian Place, about 20 miles north of Douglas.
They both worked at the state prison in Douglas and when they did not show up to work, Department of Corrections officials became worried and Wednesday requested sheriff's deputies check their home.
Deputies became suspicious when they arrived, searched the teen's room and found the shotgun, his parents' identification, cash and about a pound of marijuana, which he apparently bought with his parents' money, Wheeler said.
Deputies questioned him and obtained a search warrant. He then confessed to the slayings and led investigators to the graves, both within 30 feet of the house.
"Apparently he didn't want to abide by their rules," Wheeler said. "For whatever reason, he'd had enough and killed his mom and dad."
Zachary Eggers had been getting into trouble, charged a few times in Cochise County Juvenile Court with various offenses, Wheeler said, including running away and trespassing at school after he had been kicked out.
Eggers shot his mother once in the head when she arrived home Monday morning and later shot his father at least twice in the chest when he returned home for lunch, Wheeler said. Each killing took place in the yard of the family's home.
"I don't believe she knew what hit her," Wheeler said. "And the father comes home for lunch and he's waiting for him."
The shotgun had been locked in the parents' bedroom. Wheeler said it isn't clear how the teen obtained the gun.
Wheeler said Eggers then drove his parents' 2002 Chevrolet truck to Mexico, where he abandoned it in an attempt to cover his tracks and returned home. Records show the truck passed through the Douglas and Naco ports of entry Tuesday, but it has not been found, Wheeler said.
A 14-year-old brother and 17-year-old cousin were at school at the time of the killings and Eggers acted as if he didn't know where his parents were when they returned home, Wheeler said. A 20-year-old brother, who did not live at the home, is looking after the two teens.
The younger teens are completely shocked, Wheeler said.
"I guess you never know somebody has that in them until it happens," he said.
Chief Deputy Lance Cros-thwait said Child Protective Services was notified of the killings, but the agency has not had any contact with the family in the past.
Both the parents worked at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Douglas. His mother was as a corrections officer for seven years and his father, who worked as a substance abuse cooordinator, was a 12-year veteran, said Michael Arra, an Arizona Department of Corrections spokesman.
They were popular and well-liked among Douglas prison staffers. They were dedicated and dependable employees and when they did not return to work, officials became worried.
Department of Corrections Director Dora Schriro said in a news release that both the employee and inmate populations were subdued.
"The news of the deaths hit hard," she stated.
Employees at the unit are being offered assistance and psychological counseling at the prison.
Deborah Loomis, who lives near the family and worked with Delyn Eggers at the prison, said they were reliable workers and good parents. Delyn's sister died about two years ago and the family took in their niece.
"She was really a sweetheart, always smiling and happy-go-lucky," she said. "She was the sunshine of the (overnight) shift."
Before working for the prison, Delyn Eggers drove a school bus and knew most of the families in the area, she said. Her husband was a classical-music fan who played several instruments.
"It's too hard for us; we're just getting over the initial shock," Loomis said. "It hurts us now, very bad."
* Contact reporter Eric Swedlund at 629-9412 or at swedlund@azstarnet.com.
Good move. I'm sure there'll be no rules in prison where he'll be spending the rest of his life.
Wonder if this one was "taught" to question authority?
The Perp
Investigators found the bodies of Bradley Eggers, 43, and Delyn Eggers, 40, Wednesday in the yard of their home, 6900 N. Indian Place, about 20 miles north of Douglas.
They both worked at the state prison in Douglas..
He's really going to hate the rules when he takes up residence at the big house.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.