Bogle

The defendant, Joseph James Bogle, murdered Tom and Joan Bromley, then set fire to their house and shot himself in the head to cover up the murders. The defendant had lived with the victims and labored around the house in exchange for boarding.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that the Bromleys’ safe, which contained personal items belonging to them, was found by investigators in the defendant’s room. The defendant testified the safe was in his room because one of the victims wanted him to use the contents to buy cocaine. He refused, but set the safe down in his room. The prosecution also introduced into evidence the defendant’s keys, and the defendant purported to identify each key but did not say any key opened the safe.

During its deliberations, the jury found one of the defendant’s keys opened the safe. This discovery showed the defendant had access to the inside of the safe and he lied about the key. The jury found the defendant guilty of arson and two counts of first degree murder with firearm enhancements. The trial court sentenced him to eight years in state prison for the arson conviction and consecutive terms of life without parole plus six…