Heath Lee Lockerby, 18, and Quinten Davis Teeple, 17, of Isle La Motte each pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, arson and homicide. Both were ordered held without bail.
Court documents and a state police detective described how they believe George and Anna Fleury, 68 and 67, respectively, were killed as part of a planned robbery of a safe they kept in their home.
``In statements the defendants have given us, they indicated that the crime was thought out,'' said state police Lt. Thomas Nelson. ``They did wish to commit robbery. They did wish to cover up evidence of the crime by burning the household down.''
The Fleurys' bodies were found early Sunday in their badly burned ranch-style home after a passer-by reported a fire. The couple was dead and authorities discovered they had been stabbed a number of times each.
``In statements they've given us, they indicated they were prepared to use weapons and they each armed themselves with knives when they committed the crime,'' Nelson said.
Court records say the teenagers confronted the Fleurys when they entered the house early Sunday morning and the couple was stabbed.
The records say the teenagers allegedly knew that there were thousands of dollars in a safe because one of the Fleurys' grandsons had told them.
State police described Lockerby and Teeple as equally responsible for the crime.
Community members expressed shock at the disclosures in court in neighboring North Hero.
``These are our people, our boys,'' said Deborah LaPorte. ``To think this could come from people we know and have loved and watched grow up _ they knew the Fleurys. They used to go swimming in their pool. The boys are all friends with the Fleury boys. It's a nightmare.''
Isle La Motte is a tightly knit community of about 550 people who live on the island in the northern reaches of Lake Champlain.
Nelson said state police found signs almost immediately that the fire had been an arson and the deaths were homicides. An informant quickly told detectives of hearing the suspects talk about stealing the safe.
``There was information that discussions had occurred,'' he said. ``There was information that gasoline was brought to the scene and some of these issues indicated to us that premeditation was involved in this.''
The Fleurys have been described as being well liked and respected in the community. George Fleury was a plumber and electrician who owned his own business. The couple's two sons worked in the business, and Anna Fleury kept the books.
