For over a decade, a quiet rural community in Indiana was haunted by an unsolved murder and a single, burning question: what was inside a stolen safe that was worth killing an elderly man for?
The mystery began on 8 December 2012, when 85-year-old retired farmer Lowell Badger was found shot dead on his bedroom floor in his Sullivan County home. Police quickly determined his death was the result of a burglary turned deadly.
A Crucial Piece of Evidence Vanishes
Investigators discovered that a black 46-inch Sony Bravia television had been taken from the property. But the most significant item stolen was a light-to-medium dark grey John D. Brush and Company safe, measuring 23½ inches tall, 17 inches deep, and 17 inches wide, which was hauled from the basement.
For years, Indiana State Police operated on the theory that this heavy metal safe held the motive for the brutal crime. Despite extensive searches of local ponds, lakes, and rivers, and a $30,000 reward for information, the safe never resurfaced. The case, and the central question of the safe's contents, went cold.
New Focus Breaks the Case Open
The stalemate lasted for 13 years until a renewed investigative push in 2023. Full-time detectives re-examined evidence and re-interviewed witnesses, leading to a breakthrough based on statements from more than a dozen individuals.
Court documents revealed that on the evening of 7 December 2012, witnesses at a party overheard William Ray Grimes and Richard Taft discussing plans to break into a house to look for money. Later that night, the men were seen returning with a flat-screen television.
In the aftermath, multiple witnesses described Taft as emotionally distraught. One person told police Taft admitted to participating in robbing and "hitting" an old man, claiming he took a gun and shot Badger because someone else was too afraid. He allegedly stated the safe was thrown into a creek behind a relative's house.
Justice Served After a Long Wait
In April 2024, a grand jury indicted William Ray Grimes on charges of murder, burglary, and conspiracy to commit burglary. Richard D. Taft, 39, was charged with murder and burglary three months later. Both men were already incarcerated on unrelated convictions.
During the trial, prosecutors relied on witness testimony. Forensic evidence showed Badger died from a .22 calibre gunshot wound to the temple. Taft testified for the prosecution, admitting his role in the burglary and claiming he saw Grimes shoot Badger at point-blank range.
In May 2024, a Sullivan County jury found Grimes guilty. He was sentenced in June to 120 years in prison – 70 years for murder and 50 for conspiracy. The judge cited the "heinous nature" of the crime. Grimes maintained his innocence and vowed to appeal.
After the sentencing, Badger's son, Alan, spoke of the arduous journey to justice, thanking his family, church, and community for their support through the years of uncertainty.
A Community Remembers a Kind Soul
Lowell Badger was remembered not as a victim, but as a pillar of his community. A retired farmer, devoted member of Kingsley Memorial United Methodist Church since 1960, and a servant on various local boards, he was described by a neighbour as "the kindest man I've ever met."
While two men are now convicted for his murder, the question that launched the investigation remains. The safe that may hold the final secret to the motive for that December night in 2012 is still missing, a silent testament to a crime that shattered a rural community's peace.
