EWING, Neb. (KTIV/US92) -
A man accused in a double murder case in Northeast Nebraska will be in court for the first time on Wednesday.
When 33-year old Matthew Hinrichson of Ewing, Nebraska makes his first appearance in Antelope County, he faces five criminal charges.
"Two counts of first degree murder, two counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony and one count of arson," said Antelope County Attorney Joseph Abler during a press conference on Tuesday in Neligh, Nebraska.
Hinrichson is accused of shooting 25-year old Victoria Lee of Missouri Valley, Iowa and 30-year old Gabino Vargas of Omaha on Saturday, and then setting their mobile home east of Ewing on fire.
Officials say police were able to piece two different 911 calls regarding the incident together to eventually find Hinrichson.
Abler said, "Law enforcement were in the area. They were able to, in their investigation, come up with where or who the possible suspect would be."
Officials aren't saying, though, what connection Hinrichson had with the victims or with a third occupant of the trailer named Francisco Gomez. Gomez escaped without injury. He was questioned and released.
County prosecutors say while the fire investigation isn't complete yet they still had enough information to charge Hinrichson with arson.
"I think I can at least say I don't think it was an accidental fire," said Abler.
Hinrichson's initial appearance is scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday.
It's the first murder case on the Antelope County Court docket in 30 years.
