Vermont man charged in the murder of missing Bradford man – VTDigger

A Bradford man in Vermont State Police custody is accused of killing Corey Crooker, who was first reported missing in January, according to state police.

James D. Nickles Jr., 42, is facing charges of second-degree murder, unauthorized burial or removal of a dead body and providing false information to police, according to state police spokesperson Adam Silverman. A judge found probable cause for the charges Friday, and the Vermont State Police obtained an arrest warrant for Nickles.

Crooker was last seen by family members on Jan. 9 and last heard from five days later.

Vermont State Police initially deemed Crooker’s disappearance “not suspicious” but later obtained evidence that the circumstances of the case were “criminal in nature.”

Nickles had been in federal custody on firearms charges arising from the investigation into Crooker’s disappearance when he was charged with his killing, according to state police.

According to reporting by NBC5, Nickles, while in custody, allegedly confessed to shooting Crooker on Jan. 14 during an argument over drugs.

Nickles later disposed of the body by burning it in a fire pit, NBC5 reported. Police found evidence at the scene but could not positively identify the remains at that time, the outlet reported.

The agency this week also arrested Lisa Akey of Bradford in connection with Crooker’s death. Akey has been charged with being an accessory after the fact, obstruction of justice and providing false information to a police officer, according to state police.