Homeless man charged in Independence death

Prosecutors on Friday charged a homeless man with the murder of an Independence resident.

Darryl M. Schaeffel, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Charles Younger, 55, whose body authorities discovered on New Year’s Day.

According to court records, Independence police officers found Younger’s body while investigating a report of a suspicious death in a home in the 15000 block of East Truman Road.

They recovered three spent shell casings near Younger’s body. A Jackson County medical examiner later determined that Younger had been shot and stabbed.

Witnesses told investigators that Schaeffel had been living in Younger’s home for several days and that the two had been arguing because Younger thought Schaeffel had been stealing from him.

Prosecutors requested bond of $250,000.

Brian Burnes, @BPBthree

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Homeless man charged in Independence death."