MONDAY 5/18/2020 6:31 p.m.

KINGSTON, Mo. (The Kansas City Star) — The family of two Wisconsin brothers who were killed in Missouri have settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the suspect and his mother.

A Callaway County judge approved a $2 million settlement in a lawsuit filed in the deaths of Nicholas and Justin Diemel of Shawano County, Wisconsin.

The family sued Garland Nelson, his mother, Tomme Feil; and their cattle business.

Nelson is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of the brothers and could face the death penalty if he’s convicted. Nelson has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Missouri to seek death penalty in Wisconsin brothers’ deaths

THURSDAY 5/1/2020 11:54 a.m.

KINGSTON, Mo. (AP) — The state of Missouri plans to seek the death penalty for a man suspected of killing two brothers from Wisconsin.

Attorney Patrick Berrigan told the St. Joseph News-Press Wednesday that he has been appointed to defend Garland Joseph Nelson in the death penalty case.

Nelson is accused of killing Nick and Justin Diemel, of Shawano County, Wisconsin, in July. Nelson pleaded not guilty Monday. Circuit Judge Kevin Walden has been appointed to hear the case.

Court records report the brothers disappeared after they went to Nelson’s northwestern Missouri farm to collect a $250,000 debt.

Their remains were found in Missouri and Nebraska.  

Garland Nelson bound over for trial, charged with deaths of Shawano County Diemel brothers

THURSDAY 4/16/2020 11:13 a.m.

MISSOURI (WFRV) – The man charged with killing two Shawano County brothers has been bound over for trial in Missouri.

Caldwell County court records show 25-year-old Garland Nelson appeared for a preliminary hearing Thursday. He waived his hearing and was bound over for a formal arraignment on May 4.

Nelson is facing charges in connection with the deaths of Nick and Justin Diemel of Shawano. The remains of both brothers were found and identified in November.

Nelson is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of abandonment of a corpse, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, two counts of armed criminal action, tampering with a motor vehicle, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Remains of both Diemel brothers found, identified

FRIDAY 11/22/19 3:33 p.m.

CALDWELL COUNTY, Miss. (WFRV) — The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office says the remains of the missing Diemel brothers have officially been located.

On Thursday, investigators say they recovered the remains of Justin and Nick Diemel of Shawano. Nick’s remains were recovered on a farm in rural Caldwell County. Justin’s remains were recovered in a livestock trailer in Lincoln County, Nebraska.

The identifications were confirmed following an examination of dental records.

Officials say 25-year-old Garland “Joey” Nelson remains in custody in the Caldwell County Detention Center in Missouri. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of abandonment of a corpse, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, two counts of armed criminal action, tampering with a motor vehicle, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Nelson is being held without bond.

The investigation remains ongoing in Missouri. Local 5 will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Human remains found in trailer may belong to Diemel brothers

MONDAY 11/18/19 5:40 p.m.

HERSHEY, Neb. (WFRV) — Human remains found in a stock trailer in Nebraska may belong to one of the Diemel brothers.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to a ranch on Friday at around 11:45 a.m. after a rancher reported he found human remains in a trailer he recently purchased in Missouri.

Upon arrival, deputies say they found a large plastic animal supplement tub full of dirt. The rancher told deputies he found the tub in the stock trailer when he purchased it.

The rancher reportedly took the tub out of the trailer to spread the dirt in his driveway. This is when the man says he saw what he believed to be human remains and other items in the tub.

The Sheriff’s Office says that upon examination, the deputies confirmed the remains were human and noticed personal items in the tub. Deputies then were able to ascertain the remains possibly belonged to one of the two Diemel brothers.

Deputies contacted the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri – where the Diemel brothers were reported missing – and it was determined by officials in Caldwell County that the remains could belong to the Diemels.

Investigators and Missouri State Police flew into Lincoln County to retrieve the remains.

The investigation reportedly remains ongoing.

Another preliminary hearing scheduled for Garland Nelson

THURSDAY 11/14/19 10:12 a.m.

CALDWELL, Mo. (WFRV) — The man accused of murdering Nick and Justin Diemel appeared in a Missouri court Thursday.

According to court documents, 25-year-old Garland “Joey” Nelson faces numerous charges, including two counts of 1st Degree Murder, two counts of Abandonment of a Corpse, two counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence in Felony Prosecution, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, one count of Tampering with a Motor Vehicle, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

A motion by Nelson’s attorney has rescheduled the preliminary hearing for January 9.

Garland Nelson waives arraignment, appears again in Nov.

THURSDAY 10/24/19 11:15 a.m.

MISSOURI (WFRV) — Garland Nelson has waived his arraignment in Missouri Courts.

According to court documents, Nelson appeared Thursday. He will appear again for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 14.

Friend of the Diemels comments on the charges

WEDNESDAY 10/23/19 6:50 p.m.

“I don’t think there’ll be closure until the man is prosecuted. But it’s nice to see that they have come forward with some charges,” said Kevin Conradt, a family friend of the Diemels in Navarino.

“They were great guys, you know. Family guys. They grew up in a big family. It struck everybody pretty hard around here and it still has.”

Nick Diemel was 35 and his brother, Justin, 24.
Now, the quiet town of Navarino is remembering them.

“I knew them when they played little league in town here and Nick helped coach little league in town and his kids played,” he said. “Everybody knows everybody in a small community.”

They went missing back in July during a business trip to Missouri.
And now, they live on in the memories of those friends and family left behind.

“I’ll always remember them for their sense of humor and straightforwardness and always willing to help,” said Conradt.

They leave behind siblings, parents, grandparents and children.

“Nick has four kids,” he said. “A couple of them are pretty young. They’ll grow up never knowing him. But hopefully he can live on through the memories that have been captured through the years.”

Justice could be getting closer.
But the loss of the brothers has left a hole in this community.

“I don’t think you ever heal from something like this,” said Conradt. “You have to cherish the good times, remember them for what they were, the great people that they were. In time, things will come to a closure. We’ll never forget the guys in this community or their families. So, try to keep them in our hearts and prayers.”

A benefit for Nick and Lisa Diemel’s children is being held November 9th in Black Creek.

Garland “Joey” Nelson faces two counts of first-degree murder in missing Diemel brothers case

WEDNESDAY 10/23/19 10:30 a.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri cattle farmer charged Wednesday with two counts of first-degree murder shot two brothers from Wisconsin, burned their bodies and dumped the remains on a manure pile on his property, investigators said.

Garland Nelson, 25, of Braymer is also charged with two counts of abandonment of a corpse, two counts of tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution, two counts of armed criminal action, tampering with a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to documents filed in Caldwell County, Missouri.

Nelson is accused in the deaths of Nick Diemel, 35, and Justin Diemel, 24, of Shawano County, Wisconsin. Jack Diemel, the brothers’ father, said the two had traveled to Nelson’s northwestern Missouri farm to collect on a $250,000 debt, according to a probable cause statement. The father reported his sons missing July 21 after they failed to show up for a flight home to Milwaukee and did not answer their phones.

If convicted of murder, Nelson could face a sentence of life in prison without parole, or death, Caldwell County Sheriff Jerry Galloway said during a news conference Wednesday morning. Garland is jailed without bond.

A man who answered the phone Wednesday at the Diemel family’s cattle farm, Diemel’s Livestock LLC, said he was the brother of the victims but declined to comment on the charges.

According to the probable cause statement, Nelson shot the brothers then put their bodies in 55-gallon metal barrels and used a skid loader to move them one at a time from a barn to a pasture. There, he burned them using diesel fuel and an unknown liquid. Nelson told investigators he then dumped the remains on a manure pile and hid the barrels elsewhere on his property, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

Authorities identified the remains as the Diemel brothers using DNA comparisons, according to the court documents.

Nelson also drove the brothers’ rented truck from his farm to a commuter parking lot, where it was found abandoned, authorities said.

“Throughout the investigation (Nelson) provided hours of interviews with investigators and gave many misleading explanations and recollections of events in attempts to mislead law enforcement in locating Nicholas and Justin Diemel,” Maj. Mitchell Allen with the Caldwell County sheriff’s office said, according to the probable cause statement.

Galloway admitted the case had been among the most challenging he has worked.

Nelson was involved in a business arrangement with another farmer that included calves owned by the brothers, people involved with the deal told the Kansas City Star in August.

Kansas dairy farmer David Foster told the newspaper that he purchased 131 calves from Nelson in November. Nelson was to raise the calves and the farmers would split the cost after the animals were sold. Foster said 100 of the calves belonged to the Diemel brothers.

Nelson’s mother, Tomme Feil, said the calves became ill shortly after arriving at the farm. She blamed the illnesses on a bad winter and weakened immune systems. She said many died even though they followed the advice of veterinarians and gave the cattle medications and feed.

Feil said her son returned the remaining calves when Foster’s bank claimed them as collateral.

Foster said only 35 calves were returned to him and that Nelson owed him more than $151,000, though Feil disputed the amount. She said several people owe her son money and that he planned to pay Foster back when others paid their debts to him.

Nelson was sentenced in 2016 to two years in prison for selling more than 600 head of cattle that did not belong to him. Nelson pleaded guilty to cattle fraud that caused more than $262,000 in losses. He was released from prison in March 2018. He also pleaded guilty in August 2015 to two misdemeanor counts of passing bad checks.

Nelson also faces charges in Kansas of endangering the food supply. Prosecutors there said Nelson didn’t have proper health papers in May when he took 35 calves from his family’s farm to a farm in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Nelson will be formally arraigned on Thursday morning at 10.

TUESDAY 10/22/19 3:50 p.m.

KINGSTON, Mo. (WDAF) — Caldwell County prosecutors are expected to give an update Wednesday in regards to Garland “Joey” Nelson, the man tied to two missing Wisconsin men.

Sgt. Donald Fuller with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department tells FOX4 there will be a news conference at the courthouse Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

The 25-year-old Missouri farmer pleaded not guilty earlier this month on a charge he took the truck belonging to Nick and Justin Diemel.

The brothers, from Shawano County, Wisconsin, were on a trip related to their cattle business when they disappeared in July after visiting Nelson.

They are now presumed dead.

Searchers found human remains on Nelson’s farm in Caldwell County, but officials have not identified those remains.

Nelson also faces charges in Kansas of endangering the food supply. Prosecutors there say Nelson didn’t have proper health papers in May when he took 35 calves from his family’s farm in Missouri to a farm in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Garland Nelson enters plea of not guilty for tampering with vehicle of Diemel brothers

MONDAY 10/7/19 11:00 a.m.

MISSOURI (WFRV) — Garland Nelson, the man facing a charge in connection with the disappearance of Nick and Justin Diemel, has entered a plea of not guilty.

Nelson appeared in court Monday morning after being charged with tampering with a motor vehicle.

In addition to entering a plea of not guilty, Nelson made a motion for a change of judge.

There is no future court date set at this time.

Garland Nelson waives preliminary hearing, arraignment set for October 7

MONDAY 9/16/19 9:45 a.m.

MISSOURI (WFRV) – Garland Nelson appeared in court Monday via Polycom with attorney Ryan Williams.

During the hearing, Nelson waived his preliminary hearing.

He will appear in Caldwell County Circuit Court on October 7 at 9 a.m. for formal arraignment.

Nelson is being held on a vehicle tampering charge connected to the July 21 disappearance of Shawano County brothers Nick and Justin Diemel.

New charges filed against Garland Nelson in Kansas

TUESDAY 8/20/19 10:47 a.m.

KANSAS (WFRV) — Garland Nelson is now facing charges in Kansas of transporting animals across state lines and endangering the food supply.

Nelson, also accused of tampering with the vehicle the Diemel brothers were driving, received these charges following an investigation by the USDA of David Foster’s farm.

Foster previously spoke with KCTV5, Local 5’s Missouri affiliate, about Nelson and an arraignment they had going sour months before the Diemel brothers disappeared.

KCTV5 says Nelson will appear in a Kansas county court for these new charges on September 4. For more on this story, visit our sister station.

On September 16, Nelson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing related to the case of the missing Diemel brothers.

Preliminary hearing delayed for man charged in Diemel brothers case

THURSDAY 8/15/19 10:30 a.m.

MISSOURI (WFRV) — According to court records, the preliminary hearing for Garland Nelson, the man charged with tampering with the vehicle the Diemel brothers were driving in Missouri, has been rescheduled.

Missouri court records say the defense attorney asked for more time to defend the case.

This is the second time in as many weeks that more time has been requested by the defendant.

Nelson appeared in-person via video along with his attorney Thursday morning.

The preliminary hearing will be held on September 16th.

Defendant requests more time in case, preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 15

THURSDAY 8/8/19 11:35 a.m.

Garland Nelson’s preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 15.

Kansas farmer offers details on man charged in missing Diemel brothers case

According to court documents, Nelson and his attorney appeared in court via video Thursday morning requesting more time in the case.

Nelson is charged with tampering with the rental pickup truck the Diemel brothers were driving in Missouri while visiting on business.

Bond hearing postponed, defendant’s attorney unable to attend

THURSDAY 8/1/19 11:49 a.m.

The man charged with tampering with the truck driven by the Diemel brothers will remain in jail without bond for at least another week.

Garland Nelson, 25, was set to appear in court for a bond hearing Thursday morning.

Nelson informed the court his attorney was unable to attend the hearing due to another case.

The judge has postponed the hearing to August 8, according to Local 5’s affiliate.

Human remains found in search for missing brothers

WEDNESDAY 7/31/19 3:31 p.m.

Officials in Missouri say human remains have been found during their investigation regarding the disappearance of the Diemel brothers.

The human remains have not been identified at this time. The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department says they are working to identify these remains.

Watch the news conference from the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department below.

Man charged in Diemel brothers case denied bond change

MONDAY 7/29/19 1:44 p.m.

According to court documents, Garland Nelson, 25, has been held without bond at the Caldwell County Detention Center.

During his initial appearance Monday, the judge denied Nelson’s request for bond change.

A new hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, August 1.

Diemel brothers case now classified as death investigation

FRIDAY 7/26/19 4:32 p.m.

The case of the missing Diemel brothers is now being classified as a death investigation according to authorities.

A Local 5 affiliate says police announced Friday a suspect was in custody in connection with the investigation, but they would not identify the individual.

A Braymer man, Garland Nelson, has been charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle.

Man charged in missing brothers investigation

FRIDAY 7/26/19 4:15 p.m.

A man has been charged in connection to the disappearance of the Diemel brothers.

A Local 5 affiliate in Missouri says officials have charged Garland Nelson, 25, with tampering with a motor vehicle, a first-degree felony.

This charge reportedly stems from the search of Justin and Nick Diemel.

The Diemel brothers reportedly left their hotel in Cameron, Mo., and drove to an address in Braymer where Nelson operates his farm.

Police say the truck’s GPS information shows it leaving the farm hours after its arrival. Surveillance footage in Polo, Mo., shows the truck without anyone in the passenger seat.

Before 1 p.m. Sunday, the truck reportedly pulled into a commuter lot in Holt, Mo., where officials found it Monday empty and with the keys in the ignition.

Local 5’s affiliate says investigators questioned Nelson. During this, he admitted to driving the truck from his farm and leaving it in the commuter lot.

Nick’s wife, Lisa, told our affiliate the brother’s wallets and cell phones were not in the truck when it was found.

Nelson has a conviction for selling cattle that didn’t belong to him and spent two years in a federal penitentiary for that charge.

At this time, Nelson is not in police custody, but there’s a warrant out for his arrest.

Search continues for missing Diemel brothers

THURSDAY 7/25/19 6:02 p.m.

Officials say the search continues for the missing Diemel brothers in Missouri.

Investigators from several agencies swarmed a Caldwell County property Wednesday while searching for the Diemel brothers.

According to a Local 5 affiliate, the property where the search is taking place is connected to a man named Joey Nelson.

Nelson has a conviction for selling cattle that didn’t belong to him, resulting in him spending two years in a federal penitentiary.

The property where the search is taking place is connected to a man named Joey Nelson. Nelson has a conviction for selling cattle that didn’t belong to him and spent two years in a federal penitentiary.

Multiple agencies searching for missing brothers

WEDNESDAY 7/24/19 11:35 a.m.

Officials say multiple agencies are continuing to search for two brothers missing in Missouri.

Nick Diemel, 35, and Justin Diemel, 24, were reportedly last seen in Cameron, Mo., Sunday.

Nick’s wife, Lisa, told a Local 5 affiliate her husband and brother-in-law were staying at a Quality Inn off Interstate 35 in Cameron.

The brothers flew to Missouri on Saturday to check on some of the cattle belonging to their livestock company. Nick and Justin reportedly missed their afternoon flight Sunday afternoon.

Sheriff’s deputies in Clinton County found a rental truck the brothers were driving Monday. It was abandoned at a commuter lot in Holt, Mo., 22 miles from the hotel they were staying in.

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Tuesday that it was actively investigating the brothers’ disappearance.

Lisa told Local 5’s affiliate it’s unlike her husband to not call. She said they are constantly in communication when he travels.

The couple has four children. The youngest is 1, and the oldest is 17.

The investigation continues and deputies are releasing little information.

If you have any information, you’re asked to call Clinton County CrimeStoppers at 816-632-TIPS.

Search underway in Missouri for two brothers from Shawano

WEDNESDAY 7/24/19 6:13 a.m.

A search is currently underway for two brothers from Shawano.

24-year-old Justin Diemel and 35-year-old Nicholas Diemel own a livestock company and were reportedly in Caldwell and Clinton counties in Missouri for a business trip.

Deputies began to investigate their disappearance Monday after finding their vehicle in a commuter lot in the city of Holt.

More information is expected to be released Wednesday morning.