3 charged in death of Minnesota farm couple

An elderly couple died after three southwest Minnesota men allegedly broke into their farmhouse, shot them, burglarized the home before setting it on fire last week, according to Lyon County prosecutors.

James, 75, and Catherine Hively, 71, died of gunshot wounds, according to the criminal complaint against a Balaton, Minn. man who lives less than 2 miles from them and was charged in their murder.

The couple's bodies were found last Thursday in the burned farmhouse where they lived for 45 years.

Derek Michael Hexum, 20, of Balaton, and 18-year-old Theodore Allen Como, of Marshall, each face two counts of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of arson in the first and second degree.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Kyle Richard Wesselink, 21, of Tyler, Minn. faces arson and burglary charges.

According to the criminal complaint, the Hivelys' son, who lives 3 miles away, reported his parents' home was on fire around 9 a.m. last Thursday.

Firefighters from around Lyon County responded with mutual aid from Balaton volunteer firefighters, including a grandson and daughter-in-law of the victims.

"I pulled him off the scene," Teri Hively said of her son. "I said 'you can't fight your own grandma's fire.' Something like that ... you back off when it's your own. There is too much emotion tied to something that's your own."

Later that day, Marshall Police stopped Wesselink and Como in a traffic stop and found five firearms in the trunk wrapped in plastic. One of them belonged to a Lyon County man who had reported a Remington 12-gauge shotgun stolen the previous day. Three belonged to James Hively, according to the complaint.

Wesselink told investigators that last Wednesday he gave Como and Hexum a ride to the Hively's farm to burglarize it. He said Hexum came out with "something large wrapped in plastic" that he knew were guns and asked him to pop the trunk.

For his part, Como told investigators he "covered his ears" while waiting outside while Hexum was inside.

"Within moments (Como) heard four or five shots and someone screaming," the complaint said.

Como then went inside and grabbed several items, according to the complaint. He and Hexum allegedly loaded up the Hivelys' Lincoln and stole it.

The next day, on April 30, Como said "he and Hexum decided that they needed to destroy the evidence."

The trio drove back to the Hively home with a can of gasoline "to set it on fire," the complaint said.

Hexum denied his involvement in the crimes.

James and Catherine Hively spent all of their lives in small communities of Lyon County. The former high school sweethearts were retired corn and soybean farmers. They had been married 53 years.

"It's a tragic loss," Teri Hively said. "We're just thankful for what they've taught us. They've taught us love, faith. Based off what they've taught us is really what's carrying us through this."