Jason Klaus and Joshua Frank, the two men charged in the murder of Gordon, Sandra and Monica Klaus last December, appeared before judge J. D. Holmes in Red Deer Provincial Court on Sept. 17.
According to a court clerk, both cases were put off until Oct. 6, when both would be expected to elect the manner of hearing they wish to have, as well as enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. No lawyers were retained by either of the accused as of Sept. 17.
In early December 2013, the home of Gordon and Sandra Klaus burned to the ground outside of Castor.
Their daughter, Monica, had been visiting at the time, and both her remains and that of her father was found in the debris. Sandra’s remains were never found, but are believed to have been burned in the fire, which burned intensely and at high temperatures as there had been a recent delivery of coal to the home.
The family’s dog was found shot outside of the house.
After nine months of investigation, major crimes unit charged Jason Klaus, the son of two of the victims and brother of the third, with three counts of first degree murder and one count of arson. His friend, Joshua Frank, was also charged with the same charges plus another charge of injuring an animal for shooting the family’s dog.
None of these charges have been proven in a court of law.