There’s new developments in two long unsolved crimes in Carbondale.
A grand jury in Chicago yesterday indicted a man for first degree murder in the 2014 death of SIU student Pravin Varughese. 22-year-old Gaege Bethune initially told police he was a “good Samaritan” who picked up Varughese in his truck. But during the ride, he got into an argument with Varughese, which led to a physical altercation outside the vehicle. Varughese ran away from the scene and was later found dead in a nearby wooded area along Route 13. The Jackson County Coroner ruled his cause of death was hypothermia. But Varughese’s parents had a second autopsy done that showed their son died of blunt force trauma to the head. Bethune is being held on one million dollars bond.
And Carbondale Police say they are still investigating the July 2006 death of Ryan Livingston. The 22-year-old was walking home from a Sunset Concert when he was stabbed to death by two men during an apparent robbery on West Walnut Street. There is still a 6-thousand dollar reward for any information leading to an arrest or conviction of those responsible. If you have any information, call Carbondale Police at 457-3200 or Crimestoppers at 549-COPS.