A man was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday in the February 2014 death of a Southern Illinois University student.
Twenty-three-year-old Gaege Bethune of Eldorado, Illinois, was accused of striking Pravin Varughese several times and driving off, which led to his death from hypothermia. The jury in Murphysboro heard closing arguments Thursday. The jury deliberated for seven hours before finding Bethune guilty.
Prosecutors argued an intoxicated Bethune and the 19-year-old Varughese drove around Carbondale looking for cocaine. After an unsuccessful search, prosecutors say the pair fought.
Bethune testified that he told a state trooper that Varughese, wearing only a T-shirt and blue jeans, ran into the woods. Trooper Christopher Martin testified he didn't believe Bethune and didn't have the wooded area in Carbondale searched.
Varughese's body was found several days later.
“We are relieved. Pravins search ended today," the victim's mother, Lovely Varughese said. "We praise God for giving us the strength to go through this.”
