Kcoree Warren

n March this year, a Ferguson man reported a teen’s rape to authorities. When the suspect’s sister later offered him a $12,000 bribe to stay quiet, Kcoree Warren refused. Six weeks after that, in July, the 44-year-old was shot dead outside his front door. Hours later, his killer’s body was found near a burned car. On Wednesday, authorities announced three men are now charged with murder in connection to both killings. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Price Smith said multiple agencies, including the FBI, have worked on the case for four months. “While every defendant is presumed innocent, due to the diligence and the countless hours and cooperation of these law enforcement agencies, we are confident that these defendants will be held accountable,” she said. “We believe they were all acting together in both of these murders.” The three men were indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday afternoon. The rape suspect, 40-year-old Lavor Harmon, faces five new charges: two first-degree murder counts, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of knowingly burning or exploding. Those were added to his existing three counts of statutory sodomy and one count of statutory rape. His uncle, Anthony L. Young, 52, and Young’s son, Anthony D. Young, 23, were also charged with those same five counts. The Youngs also face one charge of tampering with physical evidence. Their St. Louis County cases are sealed, and Price Smith said they are currently in federal custody. Harmon’s indictment, available Wednesday, did not provide additional insight into the murders. The string of crimes began in March, when Warren reported the rape of a 15-year-old girl to Ferguson police. The rape case against Harmon was filed in May. The charges say Harmon met the girl as she walked home from school and the two exchanged phone numbers. Harmon had taken her shopping and then to her house, where he sexually assaulted her, the charges say. Ten days after those charges were filed, before Harmon was in jail, his sister showed up at Warren’s home. Lavonda Harmon, 44, offered him the $12,000 bribe to stay quiet, records say. A man with her was not identified in those records, and on Wednesday prosecutors said they could not release that person’s name because he has still not been charged. Warren refused the money and the two left. Lavonda was charged with tampering with a witness. She has since posted a $100,000 cash bond. Six weeks after Warren refused the bribe, on the afternoon of July 8, Andrew Klaus, 19, came to Warren’s home on Bayview Drive and shot him, authorities say. Klaus fled the scene in a white SUV. Then, just hours after Warren was shot, St. Louis police found Klaus’ body in the 3100 block of Vine Grove Avenue next to a burned white SUV. Prosecutors on Wednesday said Klaus knew the Youngs and Harmon. Lavor Harmon was arrested July 10, two days after the murders.