Home owner charged with killing burglars

Emma Schmidt, a fellow classmate at Little Falls High School, said Kifer was talented and well-liked and 'everyone's wondering' what she was doing in Smith's basement.

Further insight into the lives of the cousins was given by Brady's sister, Crystal Shaeffel, as she visited Smith's home and spoke with his brother.

'They were 17 and 18 years old, and didn't need to die,' she told Bruce Smith.

'That all depends on your perspective,' he responded, referring to a series of break-ins his brother had endured. In one in October, thieves stole $10,000 worth of guns and electronics, he said.

But Shaeffel insisted that her brother had no need to turn to burglary, as he made good money working for their father's tree-trimming business.

She added that her cousin, who had undergone treatment for substance abuse, could have been after pills from the home.

'Yes, she had an addiction problem and stuff, but that doesn't mean she deserves to get murdered at 18 years old,' Shaeffel said. 'I understand they came there to rob them, or whatever, but shoot them in the shoulder and call the cops.'

On the Facebook page, friends agreed that the shootings were too severe.

'It doesn't matter what they were or weren't doing there,' Mike Boulley wrote. 'They were KIDS that didn't deserve to die. Defending your property against armed burglars is one thing, gunning down two unarmed teenagers is just inexcusable.'

Logan Ayres added: 'It's hard to see such nice people lose their lives to something that could of been so easily taken care of instead of murder. R.I.P. nick and halie you will be dearly missed.'

Smith, 64, a former government employee who reportedly worked in security for the U.S. State Department, was arrested on Friday and is being held on $2 million bail.