Crites indicted on eight counts of first-degree murder, other felonies
A Sangamon County grand jury indicted Mark N. Crites, Jr. of Springfield Wednesday morning on eight counts of first-degree murder related to the shooting deaths of John and Gloria Norgaard in the couple's home by Southwind Park on Sept. 11.
Crites will be arraigned on the charges at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
Crites, 23, also was indicted on aggravated arson, residential arson, theft, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated possession of stolen firearms.
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The arson charges relate to an incident in the 100 block of Genoa Drive preceding the shootings.
Crites was found sitting in a 2008 black Dodge Charger in Benld, about an hour south of Springfield, around 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 12.
A caller alerted the Gillespie police about the vehicle, which was found near the intersection of Maple and Cahokia streets off Illinois 138.
Gillespie police patrol Benld, a town of about 1,400 in Macoupin County.
Sangamon County sheriff's deputies have not given a reason why Crites ended up in Benld.
The couple's bodies were discovered in their residence in the 500 block of Southwind Road by a family member, who then called 911 around 8 a.m. on Sept. 11.
According to Springfield Police, Crites fought with his brother about 6 p.m. on Sept. 10, then poured gasoline throughout their Genoa Drive home, set it ablaze and fled.
Springfield police reported searching the neighborhood, businesses and nearby Southwind Park for Crites without finding him.
Crites' bond remains at $5 million.
This story will be updated.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Mark Crites indicted on eight first-degree murder charges
