Two Twin Cities men charged with murdering farmer

Carver County prosecutors have charged two Twin Cities men with murdering a 90-year-old farmer in his home last month.

Criminal charges filed Wednesday allege that Reinol Godines Vergara, 35, of Richfield, and Edson Celin-Dominguez Benitez, 29, of St. Paul, tied up and beat Earl Olander to death before stealing items from his home in San Francisco Township.

Carver County Sheriff's deputies discovered Olander's body on April 11. He suffered multiple blunt force injuries to the head, face and body and his hands were bound by tape, authorities said.

Police say Vergara was familiar with Olander's home because he had done some painting there. They say Vergara determined Olander was an easy target for robbery because he had money and lived alone.

Last week, police discovered evidence in a St. Paul apartment once rented by Benitez linking him to the murder scene.

Police say they found a Bible and two $1,000 savings bonds with Olander's name on them in the vacant apartment. A person cleaning the unit found the items, looked up Olander's name on the Internet and called police, according to the criminal complaint.

Police say they also found shoe prints from the murder scene that matched shoes worn by both suspects.