Man charged in the murder of Butler County couple

Kenneth and Dorothy Neafus were model citizens living a good life according to neighbors.

Since their murder on August 9, the people of Butler County wondered what motivation the killer had.

It's one of many questions that still remain after an arrest.

All Kevin Dye did when he heard his charges for the first time was shake his head.

"Two counts of murder, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, receiving stolen property, and persistent felony offender in the second degree," read a judge in Butler Circuit Court Wednesday.

Those charges were listed on a grand jury indictment handed down only an hour before Dye's court appearance.

In August, Kenneth and Dorothy Neafus were found dead in their home on Richland Church Road, only about six miles from where Dye was living.

"I had been warned to watch out by the police officer that had come here questioning us," said Dye's neighbor, Linda Woodward.

Dye was actually arrested on August 25 on charges related to a stolen gun. During the service of a search warrant, Kentucky State Police found a .32 caliber revolver in a wooden chest in Dye's bedroom.

Neighbors living very close to Dye say before the murders there was a rash of break-ins near his house.

"There was a gun taken, some medication taken. He was a suspect," recalled Woodward.

We don't know if that gun was used in any way in the Neafus murders.

Woodward said her interactions with her nearly next door neighbor were limited, but always normal.

"Down to earth, friendly, a caring person."

Recently Dye approached her to borrow cash, something she denied.

"He was having some financial difficulties and wanted to borrow some money off of me. I didn't do it."

As he pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday afternoon, it began to set in, in Butler County that their nightmare may finally be over, but for two families in their community, it may just be beginning.

Many near Morgantown know both the Neafus family and the Dye family and consider this a tragedy for everyone involved.

"It's shocking that he would go to that extent," said Woodward.

Kenneth Neafus was the former pastor at Little Muddy Cumberland Presbyterian Church where a memorial was held for the couple August 28.

No bond was set for Dye, so he'll remain in the Butler County Jail.

He'll next be in court on November 7 for a pretrial conference. The judge declined to set a court date this early in the judicial process.

KSP has not released exactly how Dye was made a suspect in the case yet.