Elizabethtown man charged this week with 2 murders & arson killed his mother & brother 30 years ago

The suspect in a double-murder and arson in Elizabethtown killed his mother and brother in Meade County in 1994.

Dustin Caudill, according to a report by WAVE.com, “… was charged with killing his mother, 33-year-old Karen Caudill, and his 10-year-old younger brother, Nicholas, in Brandenburg in Meade County in April 1994. Investigators said he got into an argument with his brother and shot him while they were home alone. Authorities said he then shot his mother when she got home later that evening.”

Caudill, now 45, was 15-years-old when he committed the murders.

He spent 24 years in prison for killing his family members. He was released in 2020. In May 2023, he violated his parole and was sent back to prison before his release on July 1, 2024, WAVE.com reports.

Elizabethtown murders

As K105 reported Wednesday morning, the fire occurred at approximately 5:00 a.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of Henon Lane, approximately one quarter mile west of Elizabethtown High School. The wood-frame structure was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. Upon entering the home, Elizabethtown firefighters discovered two deceased adult males, according to Elizabethtown Police Department Public Affairs Officer Chris Denham.

The decedents have been identified as 41-year-old Blake France, of Greenville, and 43-year-old Anthony Garrett, of Elizabethtown. Both died from gunshot wounds.

At a press conference Wednesday morning, Denham stated: “A person who has information concerning this investigation was identified within 90 minutes” of the bodies being discovered.

Police made contact with Caudill a motel on East Dixie Avenue after his vehicle, a gold pickup truck, was seen leaving the area of the house fire “at a high rate of speed,” Denham said.

“Video surveillance from the location showed Caudill exiting the vehicle and later discarding a handgun. Further investigation revealed personal belongings of the deceased victims inside Caudill’s motel room,” Denham said in a press release issued Wednesday evening.

“During the investigation,” according to Denham, “it was discovered that Caudill had also discharged his firearm at a third victim. During an interview, Caudill confessed to the offenses, specifically admitting to shooting the victims and intentionally setting fire to the residence. He further admitted to stealing wallets from the victims and discarding them in a gas station trash can.”

Caudill was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, first-degree arson, first-degree robbery, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, first-degree wanton endangerment, and tampering with physical evidence.

He is being held in the Hardin County Detention Center.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com