Hearing set for double-homicide case

A status hearing is set for Thursday in the double-homicide case against Kelby Randolph, 54, of Fort Sumner.

Randolph is being held without bail in the De Baca County Detention Center.

He is accused of first-degree murder in the Oct 2 slayings of a Mesa, Ariz., couple, Brian Beaver, 48, and Rachelle Beaver, 38. The slayings occurred in Randolph’s home, where the Beavers were visitors, according to DeBaca County Sheriff Robert Roybal.

Randolph entered a not guilty plea on Dec. 19 in Tenth Judicial District Court, and Judge Albert Mitchell ordered that Randolph remain in custody without bail until trial.

No trial date has been set, court records show, but a second status conference has been set for Jan. 23.

On Oct. 2, according to court documents, DeBaca County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Nunez found the bodies of Brian and Rachelle Beaver in the living room of Randolph’s home after Randolph requested that a deputy come to his home. Nunez said a handgun was found on the floor next to Rachelle Beaver’s body.

Nunez met Bill Hancock, a friend of Randolph, as he drove up to Randolph’s house during Nunez’ visit. Hancock said Randolph admitted to killing the pair and described the Beavers as “freeloaders.”

Nunez said Randolph would not give any indication what happened inside the house.

Another acquaintance of Randolph’s, Gary Wilson, told Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s investigator Shank Cribbs that Randolph called Wilson to his home on Oct. 2, where Randolph handed Wilson a handwritten will that left everything to Randolph’s brother.

Wilson said Randolph held a black revolver as he talked to Wilson, and was planning “to off himself or go out in a blaze of glory.”

Brian Beaver’s teenage daughter, Brianna, said in an interview with The News in October, her dad left her in August in the care of his mother, Yvette Owens, and Brianna’s mother.

“He went to Fort Sumner to help a friend (Randolph) with his business,” Brianna said.

“My dad was a good man,” Brianna said in the telephone interview. “He was always trying to help people out.”