SULLIVAN CO. – Over twelve years after the homicide of retired farmer Lowell R. Badger, a second arrest has been made in the case. Arthur Lee Grimes, 35, was served with an arrest warrant for murder today, Monday, April 7, 2025, by the Indiana Department of Corrections. Grimes was already incarcerated at the Reception Diagnostic Center Correctional Facility.
In April of last year, William Ray Grimes was charged with murder, burglary, and conspiracy to commit burglary. Then, in August, Richard D. Taft, 39, was arrested and charged with murder and two counts of burglary.
The homicide of 85-year-old Lowell Badger occurred sometime between 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 7, 2012, and 9:23 a.m. on Saturday, December 8, 2012. Badger was found deceased by his son in his rural Merom home on the morning of December 8, 2012, having been shot to death.
Sullivan Superior Court Judge Hugh Hunt issued the arrest warrant for Arthur Grimes on April 4, 2025. Authorities have confirmed that Arthur Grimes and William Grimes are brothers.
Arthur Lee Grimes, 35, faces the following charges:
- Murder
- Burglary resulting in bodily injury (2 counts), Class A Felony
A probable cause affidavit states that the Grimes brothers and Taft robbed and killed Badger, taking his safe, his television, and the money in his pockets. Two individuals who gave statements to police have differing accounts of the murder.
One of them states that Taft took a gun from the others and shot Badger. However, a different individual stated that Arthur Grimes took the firearm from Taft and said he would show Taft “how it was done” and shot and killed Badger.
The Sullivan County Prosecutor’s Office, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, and Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office have assisted in the investigation.
