Wayne Elvin Beecher ^{3 4 5 6 7}

   FamilySearch ID: L6LL-7DZ.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1930 in Jefferson Twp., Miami, IN. ^{8 9} The 1930 census recorded Kenneth W. Beecher, railway clerk - Nickel Plate rairoad, 27, living with wife Viola K., 25; and son Wayne E., 5. Everyone and their parents were born in Indiana.

2. Census in 1940 in Jefferson Twp., Miami, IN. ¹⁰ The 1940 census recorded Kenneth D. Nutt, farmer, 35, living with wife Viola K., 35; and son Curtis R., 3. Kenneth was born in Oklahoma, the others in Indiana. They lived in the same house in 1935.
Next door is Viola's parents, Charles W. Plummer, 59, and wife Celesta L, 56; with their grandson Wayne E. Beecher, 15, born of Viola's first husband before she married Charles.

3. Census in 1950 in Jefferson Twp., Miami, IN. ¹¹ The 1950 census recorded on Tony Fisher Road: Wayne E. Beecher, farmer, 25, living with wife Lydia Ann, 21. They were born in Indiana.

4. Residence: on 19 Jan 1968 in Peru, Miami, IN. ¹²

5. Residence: on 16 Dec 1978 in Peru, Miami, IN. ⁴

6. Cause of Death: Murdered by son David Wayne Beecher., 8 Jan 1988, Peru, Miami, IN. ¹³

7. Cause of Death: multiple gunshot wounds, gunshot wound to brain, gunshot wound to the thorax, 8 Jan 1988, Peru, Miami, IN. ⁶

8. Occupation: inspector at Kokomo Corp. On 8 Jan 1988 in Peru, Miami, IN. ⁶

9. Residence: R. R. 3, Peru, IN on 8 Jan 1988 in Peru, Miami, IN. ⁶

10. Newspaper: Kokomo Tribune: David W. Beecher held in jail, 11 Jan 1988, Kokomo, Howard, IN. ¹⁴ PERU, Ind. - David W. Beecher, the 30-year-old son of a Miami County couple shot to death in their home Sunday, is being held in the Miami County Jail pending filing of charges in the deaths, Indiana State Police said today. Wayne E. Beecher 63, and Lydia Beecher, 59, were found late Sunday night shot to death in their home on Miami County Road 550 North, about 11 miles west [east] of U.S. 31. Indiana State Police said the couple had been dead several hours before police were summoned to the residence by David Beecher at about 11:40 p.m. Sunday. David Beecher, who lived with his parents, told police he returned to the residence and found the slain couple. Charges are expected to be filed within 72 hours by the Miami County prosecutor's office, police said. Police said the bodies were found inside the home. Autopsies were being performed today at Duke's Memorial Hospital, police said. Results were not available at Tribune deadline. Wayne Beecher was an employee at Chrysler Transmission Plant, Kokomo, police said. Arrangements are pending at Flowers-Leedy FunerafHome, Peru.

11. Newspaper: Logansport Pharos-Tribune, 12 Jan 1988, Logansport, Cass, IN. ¹³ PERU - A meeting was scheduled this afternoon in Peru to review evidence in the homicide deaths of a Miami County couple. David W. Beecher, 30, Rt. 3, Peru, is being held in the Miam County jail on a preliminary charge of two counts of murder in the deaths of his parents, Wayne Beecher, 63, and Lydia Beecher, 59. The Miami County prosecutor's office said a meeting of iaw enforcement officers involved in the investigation was scheduled for 4 p.m. today. The autopsy report also is expected to be completed today, according to the Miami County Coroner's office.

12. Obituary: Logansport Pharos-Tribune: Wayne E. Beecher and Lyda. A. Beecher nee Bailey on 12 Jan 1988 in Logansport, Cass, IN. ¹ Wayne E. Beecher
PERU -- Services for Wayne E. Beecher, 63, Rt. 3, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. John's Lutheran Church, Peru. He died Friday evening in his residence. He was born June 8, 1924, in Peru to Kenneth and Viola Beecher. He was married June 1, 1946, to Lydia A. Bailey, who died Jan. 8, 1988. He was an inspector for Chrysler Corp., Kokomo, and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Viola and Kenneth Nutt, Peru; a son, David, Peru; two daughters, Gloria Dance, Fort Wayne, and Nancy Felix, Plymouth; two brothers, Curtis Nutt, Peru, and William Beecher, Arlington, Va.; and six grandchildren. The Rev. Martin Haeger will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery, Peru. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home.

Lydia A. Beecher
PERU -- Services for Lydia A. Beecher, 59, Rt. 3, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. John's Lutheran Church, Peru. She died Friday evening in her residence. She was born April 24, 1928, in Peru to Allie and Mary Garber Bailey. She was married June 1, 1946, to Wayne E. Beecher, who died Jan. 8,1988. She was a retired beautician and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. Surviving are a son, David, Peru; two daughters, Gloria Dance, Fort Wayne, and Nancy Felix, Plymouth; two sisters, Mercides Ahlfield, Peru, and Elnora Marburger, Marham, 111.; and six grandchildren. The Rev. Martin Haeger will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery, Peru. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Flowers-Leedy funeral home.

13. Newspaper: Kokomo Tribune: Charges to be filed in Peru murder case, 13 Jan 1988, Kokomo, Howard, IN. ¹⁵ PERU, Ind. - Miami County Prosecutor Wilbur Siders today said charges against a 30-year-old Peru man who is accused of killing his parents Sunday were being prepared this morning. Siders said he plans to file two counts of murder and one count of robbery against David W. Beecher. Beecher is being held in the Miami County Jail. Police said Wayne Beecher, 63, and his 59-year-old wife Lydia were killed Sunday in their home on Miami County Road 550 North, about 11 miles west [east] of U.S. 31. Wayne was employed at Chrysler Transmission Plant, Kokomo, police said. David Beecher, who lived with his parents, told officers he returned to the house Sunday and found the slain couple. Unofficial autopsy results indicated the causes of death were wounds from a .22-caliber weapon. Lydia had five or six wounds to the head and chest, and Wayne had four or five wounds to the head and chest. Siders urged anyone who knows the whereabouts of David Beecher during the weekend or had seen his high four-wheel drive truck to contact the Indiana State Police. People should contact Jim Harper at 473-6666.

14. Newspaper: Pharos-Tribune: Funeral of Wayne E. And Lydia A. Beecher, 13 Jan 1988, Logansport, Cass, IN. ¹⁶ BEECHER
PERU -- A combined service for Wayne E. and Lydia A. Beecher, Rt. 3, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. John's Lutheran Church, Peru. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery, Peru.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home.

15. Newspaper: Kokomo Tribune: Sentencing is scheduled June 2 for David W. Beecher, 9 May 1988, Kokomo, Howard, IN. PERU, Ind. - Sentencing is scheduled June 2 for a Peru man who was found guilty Friday in the Jan. 8 shotgun murders of his parents. David W. Beecher, 31, Peru R.R. 3, faces up to 120 years in prison for killing his father, Wayne Beecher, 63, and his mother, Lydia, 59, in their Miami County home. A jury of seven women and five men found the younger Beecher guilty of his parents' murders late Friday after a week-long trial in the Miami Circuit Court of Judge Bruce C. Embrey. The jury acquitted Beecher on a robbery charge for allegedly taking his father's billfold after the slayings. Beecher, who had been in custody on a $225,000 bond since formal charges were filed against him Jan. 14, remains in the Miami County Jail awaiting sentencing. The elder Beecher had been employed at Chrysler Motors' Kokomo Transmission plant, according to authorities. The younger Beecher's trial began April 25 with jury selection, a process that continued into the next day. Testimony began April 27 and continued through last Wednesday, with jurors receiving the case the next afternoon.

Wayne married Lydia Ann Bailey, daughter of Allie B. Bailey and Mary Catherine Garber, on 1 Jun 1946 in , Miami, IN.^{1 2} (Lydia Ann Bailey was born on 24 Apr 1928 in Peru, Miami, IN,^{1 17 18 19} died on 8 Jan 1988 in Peru, Miami, IN ^{1 17 18 19} and was buried on 14 Jan 1988 in Peru: St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Miami, IN ^{16 17 18 19}.)