‘Person of interest’ in four Edgerton, Mo., deaths returns to Platte County

A 24-year-old man accused of stealing a vehicle from his grandparents, who were among four people found dead outside a burning home in February, has been transferred to the Platte County jail from Arizona.

Grayden Lane Denham was placed in Platte County custody Saturday. He appeared in a video arraignment before Associate Circuit Court Judge W. Ann Hansbrough on Monday, and a not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Denham remains in custody in lieu of a $100,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled to appear in court next on June 14.

His return comes weeks after Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a request from Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to have Denham transferred back to Missouri. Platte County sheriff’s deputies transported Denham from Arizona, and he arrived at the Platte County Detention Center on Saturday.

Authorities have called Denham a person of interest in the Feb. 19 deaths of four of his relatives, including his 3-month-old nephew, near Edgerton.

He was arrested Feb. 21 while walking naked in Seligman, Ariz., about 1,200 miles from Edgerton.

Platte County authorities accused Denham of taking his grandparents’ car and driving it to Arizona.

Prosecutors have not filed charges in the deaths of his grandparents Russell Denham, 82, and Shirley Denham, 81; his sister, Heather Ager, 32; and her son, Mason Schiavoni.

Authorities have not said how the victims died but have called their deaths homicides.

Firefighters found the burned bodies outside the grandparents’ burning house. A gas can sat on the ground near one.

Denham occasionally lived at the residence. He was not allowed to drive his grandparents’ vehicles because his Missouri driver’s license had been revoked for points violations and child support enforcement, according to authorities.

Arizona authorities had dismissed a misdemeanor theft charge against Denham involving a stolen license plate found on his grandparents’ car.

Denham’s mother, Shelly Denham, said Monday she is pleased that her son has been returned to Platte County, and she is looking to forward to seeing him.

“I want to hug, I want to touch him,” Denham said.

This story was originally published June 6, 2016 at 9:34 AM with the headline "‘Person of interest’ in four Edgerton, Mo., deaths returns to Platte County."