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Man Charged With Killing His Brother In Bethel Pleads Not Guilty

A Bethel man arrested for killing his older brother has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

Matthew J. O'Dell

Matthew J. O'Dell

Photo Credit: New Milford Police Department

Matthew J. O'Dell, 40, was arrested on murder charges on Wednesday, Nov. 13, by Bethel Police. 

The prosecutor said his brother, Richard O'Dell, 42, had been shot four times in the head at close range.

During the hearing where O'Dell pleaded not guilty, attorneys said that he suffered from mental health issues.

Richard O'Dell was found dead by his mother around 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 11, at their home on Apollo Drive, said the Bethel Police.

At first, the mother thought her older son had committed suicide and called the police, police said.

When officers arrived on the scene they found O'Dell had been shot four times in the head and that from the condition of his body, that he had been dead for several hours, Bethel Police said.

During the course of the investigation, Bethel detectives quickly learned that Matthew O'Dell was missing from the home and that a firearm had been taken as well.

Shortly after, police learned that Matthew O'Dell was in the custody of the New Milford police who had arrested him on unrelated charges, including threatening and carrying an illegal firearm, police said.

Police found that the gun's ammunition was consistent with shell casing recovered by police at the home, police added.

O'Dell is being held on $1 million bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, Nov. 22.

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