Formal charges were filed Friday against four of the men being held in connection with the disappearance and death of a Milford woman.

Only one of the men is facing a murder charge and another is charged with assisting a criminal. Two of the men are charged with both burglary and theft. All four men appeared before Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed Friday afternoon. Pleas of not guilty were entered by the court on the behalf of each man.

Officials said during a press conference Friday afternoon that the murder and auto thefts are believed connected, but "we don't know where the interrelationship is yet," according to Kosciusko County Prosecutor Chuck Waggoner, adding that it is premature to speculate as to a motive.

But Milford Town Marshal Dave Hobbs said the homicide "is likely related to the operation of the business."

Although the cases seem to be connected, two separate investigations are being undertaken, with Warsaw Police Department dealing with the auto thefts. The fact that both cases were uncovered simultaneously is not surprising, officials said. "Whenever you work a homicide case, other leads come up," Waggoner said.

Jason Fisher, 22, of Millersburg, faces 45 to 65 years in prison if convicted of murdering 48-year-old Kathy Vroman, whose body was recovered early Friday near Three Rivers, Mich.

The affidavit for probable cause indicates that Vroman was murdered "on or about Jan. 15." An autopsy was scheduled to take place Friday and the findings should indicate both a mode of death and a time frame as to when Vroman died.

Waggoner said a decision as to whether to ask for the death penalty in the case has not yet been made. He said he did, however, file a motion to have Fisher's $1 million bond revoked and will seek an order from the court for Fisher to be held in lieu of bond.

Fisher and his father, Ralph Freddrick Fisher, 46, of Goshen, both indicated in court that they will hire private counsel for their defense. The elder Fisher could spend two to eight years in prison if convicted of a Class C felony of assisting a criminal, which means he is accused of harboring, concealing or otherwise assisting Jason Fisher in connection with the murder of Vroman. His bond was set at $50,000 surety - the bond, if posted, must be insured by a bondsman and Fisher would have to post 10 percent of the amount to be released from the Kosciusko County Jail.

William Weston Vroman, 32, of Goshen, and George Aldrich, 28, of 9492-A Ind. 19N, Etna Green, are each charged with burglary, a Class C felony, and auto theft, a Class D felony. The former offense is punishable by two to eight years in prison and the latter carries a prison term of six months to three years. Bond for each man was set at $50,000 surety.

Both were implicated in the Dec. 2 burglary of Rice Ford in Warsaw, from which more than $100,000 in 2001 vehicles were stolen. Aldrich told Reed that his family is hiring a lawyer for him and Vroman said he can't afford an attorney. Reed said one would be appointed for him immediately.

Another suspect in the auto thefts, Lawrence Grant, 29, of Goshen, is in custody in Florida. It is expected that local officials will go to Florida and take custody of Grant sometime next week.

Jason Fisher is said to be the owner of the Country Car Co. in Milford, where it is possible Kathy Vroman was murdered. Samples from what is believed to be blood were taken from inside the business shortly after Kathy Vroman was reported missing on Jan. 15, authorities said. When asked if Vroman was killed inside the business, Waggoner said, "We are not going to speculate on where the murder occurred ... What I will tell you is that the body that was found last night is dead."

Aldrich, Grant and Kathy Vroman also were employed at the used car lot and the elder Fisher and William Vroman were affiliated with the business, it was revealed during the press conference.

Additional charges are expected in the case, but officials would not indicate whether there were more suspects or if there would be more charges against the current suspects.

The investigation into the disappearance of Kathy Vroman began Jan. 15 when her husband, William, reported her as missing when she failed to return home from work. Waggoner refused to comment on whether William Vroman was believed to be connected to his wife's disappearance.

The case soon turned to a possible homicide when the blood spots were found at the Country Car Co. and, on Wednesday night, police said an anonymous tip was received that Kathy Vroman was, in fact, dead.

The caller, later identified as Grant's wife calling from Florida, authorities said, gave police information as to the whereabouts of Vroman's body. Officials said it is not known what prompted the call from Florida, but Milford police convinced Grant to surrender himself to authorities there until the matter was sorted out. Grant is believed to have been in Florida since Monday.

Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said the information provided by the caller "has been corroborated and we are confident the caller told the truth." He said the telephone conversation between the woman and Milford Deputy Marshal Rich Miotto was recorded with her permission.

Since the arrests of the four men, search warrants were executed at the Country Car Co., the Vromans' Milford residence and the Millersburg home of Jason Fisher. Additional search warrants were being executed Friday afternoon at different locations not indicated by authorities.

There was no comment as to whether a weapon was located in any of the searches, nor was any information released as to what evidence, if any, was uncovered.

In connection with the auto theft investigations, Indiana State Police checked all of the vehicles on the lot at Country Car Co., but it is not yet known whether any of the vehicles were identified as stolen. [[In-content Ad]]