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Elizabethtown man arrested for Murder and Arson following Wednesday morning fire

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The investigation into an Elizabethtown fire has resulted in an arrest for murder.

The Elizabethtown Police Department says Dustin Caudill of Elizabethtown faces multiple charges including two counts of Murder, First Degree Arson, First Degree Robbery, First Degree Wanton Endangerment, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon following his arrest Wednesday.

According to the EPD, shortly after 5 a.m. on October 30 officers responded to a structure fire at 508 Henon Lane to assist the Elizabethtown Fire Department. Fire personnel that entered the structure discovered two deceased males, 41-year-old Blake France of Greenville and 43-year-old Anthony Garrett of Elizabethtown. The two were determined to have sustained gunshot wounds, and investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set. 

Witnesses reported seeing a gold pickup truck leaving the scene. Officers located that vehicle at a motel on South Dixie Avenue, where video surveillance showed Caudill exiting the vehicle and later discarding a handgun. Further investigation revealed the personal belongings of the victims in Caudill’s motel room, and it was later discovered that Caudill discharged his firearm at a third victim.

The EPD says that during an interview with police, Caudill confessed to shooting the victims and intentionally setting fire to the residence, as well as stealing the wallets of the victims and discarding them in a gas station trash can.

Caudill was taken into custody and was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in a video arraignment hearing in Hardin District Court Thursday morning.

(Photo Credit: Hardin County Detention Center)

UPDATE: Two dead after Elizabethtown fire; person with possible information interviewed by EPD

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The Elizabethtown Police Department continues to investigate a fire that occurred at a residence on the 500 block of Henon Lane.

During a press conference at the Elizabethtown Police Department’s headquarters, EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham confirmed that two people, believed to be adult males, were killed in the structure fire.

Denham said police work by the EPD, with assistance from the Hardin County Coroner’s Office and the Elizabethtown Fire Department, identified a person with information on the incident.

“They identified this individual within an hour and a half, roughly, of the initial report, so, very efficient,” Denham said. “We’re very proud of them for that. We have made contact with that individual, and we are conducting interviews with him at this time.”

Denham said reports from the scene indicated possible suspicious activity, including an individual who allegedly fled the area at a high rate of speed. Denham said this isn’t an indication of the person with information’s involvement in the fire, but it prompted the involvement of the EPD’s Special Response Team as a precaution.

“They went down to a hotel on East Dixie Avenue to locate the individual whom we believe has information concerning this investigation,” Denham said. “They came out of the hotel room to our officers without incident, but it was obviously a precautionary measure to do. Any time we have a critical incident like this, we’re going to immediately activate our Special Response Team.”

Denham stressed that the individual being questioned by police is not in custody and has not been charged at this time, and said at this time the EPD is not calling this more than a “death investigation with suspicious circumstances.”

The Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner will conduct post-mortems on the victims, and the Elizabethtown Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire. The EPD will release more information as it becomes available.

Two dead after fire in Elizabethtown

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Emergency responders are on the scene of a deadly fire in Elizabethtown Wednesday morning.

“Shortly before 5 a.m. this morning, we responded with the Elizabethtown Fire Department to the 500 block of Hennon Lane on the report of a residential structure fire,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Upon entering the residence, fire crews discovered two deceased individuals inside. This tragic incident is actively being investigated, but unfortunately no information regarding the sex or identity of either of the deceased individuals has been determined at this time.”

Hardin County EMS and the Hardin County Coroner’s Office are on the scene and actively assisting with the investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Early voting opportunities still available ahead of Election Day

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Election Day is less than one week away, and the Hardin County Clerk’s Office is anticipating a possible record turnout, so if you want to avoid lines on November 5 don’t forget about early voting opportunities. 

Wednesday is the last day for excused in-person absentee voting.

“That’s available to any voter who may be out of town during the early voting and regular election day voting,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “Also, it’s available for folks who due to age, illness, or disability, they have difficulty standing in line or they have other mobility issues, other issues that may take them longer to fill out a ballot, they’re welcome to come.”

Absentee voting is available at the main clerk’s office at the Hardin County Government Building. 

The county will then open up three days of in-person no excuse absentee voting.

“This is available to everyone, no excuse necessary,” Smith said. “It starts on Halloween, October 31, November 1 and 2, 8 a.m. to 4 30 p.m. We have two convenient locations. One is at the Hardin County Clerk’s main office in Elizabethtown. The other is at Colvin Community Center.”

Smith says the clerk’s office has expanded polling locations and has added voting machines at the busier locations for folks looking to cast their ballot from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day.

“As long as you’re in line by 6 p.m. you’ll be allowed to vote,” Smith said. “We have 15 locations available all across Hardin County. Any voter who’s registered in Hardin County can choose any location that’s convenient for them. I encourage folks to visit govote.ky.gov or the Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page to find the location nearest you.”

Contact your county clerk’s office for election assistance.

Study lays out area public transportation plan

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The Radcliff-Elizabethtown Metropolitan Planning Organization last year commissioned a public transportation study, and representatives from the Lincoln Trail Area Development District and consulting firm Michael Baker International on Monday presented the results and recommendations from the study at the State Theater.

LTADD Executive Director Daniel London said the study does a good job presenting the current needs and capabilities for public transportation in the area, and lays out a clear path forward with a three-phase process. Phase One starts with a partnership expanding TACK Transportation.

“They would start a vanpool service that would be a cost of $40,000 to $50,000 a year, and that gives a real test as to what the demand signal would be,” London said.

Phase One would see an Elizabethtown loop and a Radcliff/Vine Grove connector. Phase Two expands the services out to include inter-connecting services at Hardin County locations, with Phase Three expanding into Meade County/Brandenburg and Glendale.

London said state and federal funds will cover a large part of the needed costs, but local tax dollars will need to be committed to go the rest of the way.

“I would encourage the public to have conversations with their elected officials about their desire for this service and how they feel it should be funded, and give them the space and grace in which to make the best decision possible for their constituents,” London said.

Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the presented plan has him optimistic.

“On the front end, it looks like a great opportunity for not only Elizabethtown, but for our whole community, and it really opens up a lot of doors for people,” Gregory said. “When you talk about workforce development and folks being able to get to healthcare, and even younger people that want to continue education at ECTC, all those avenues are available with public transportation.”

The complete presentation, study results, and proposed plan can be found on the LTADD and REMPO websites.