An arrest has been made in the shooting deaths last month of a retired Butler County minister and his wife.

A Butler County grand jury indicted Kevin Dye, 34, on Wednesday on two counts of murder in the deaths of Dorothy and Kenneth Neafus, Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward said. Dye was served with the indictment warrant Wednesday at the Butler County Jail in Morgantown, where he was being held on unrelated charges.

A family member of Dorothy Neafus, 70, and Kenneth Neafus, 71, found the couple dead inside their home at 3455 Richland Church Road on the afternoon of Aug. 9 and called Kentucky State Police, KSP Sgt. Jeremy Smith said that day at the scene.

The two had been shot to death, Butler County Coroner Marty Jones said.

Kenneth Neafus pastored at Little Muddy Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Morgantown before retiring several years ago. Dye had at some point attended church at Little Muddy, Ward said.

Before being charged with the homicides, Dye was being held in the county jail last month in a separate case on a charge of possession of a handgun by a connected felon, Ward said. KSP Post 3 investigators, who are overseeing the homicide investigation, found the weapon while executing a search warrant on Dye. The gun had been reported stolen after a burglary at the home of one of Dye’s neighbors, Ward said.

In addition to the murder charges, Dye was also indicted for possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, receiving stolen property (firearm) and second-degree persistent felony offender, Ward said. He is also being held on a probation violation charge, according to online jail records.

The arrest brings some comfort to the Neafuses’ neighbors, but it also saddens neighbor Carlon Pendley, who knows Dye and his family.

“I feel better. I really do,” Pendley said. “That was one of my prayers. I was hoping that the person that killed them would be found. I do thank the Lord. I’m just sorry it turned out to be who it was.”

“I am very, very truly sorry for the (Neafus) family,” Pendley said. “I know them and my heart goes out to them. It’s just sad.

“I want you to know that (Kenneth Neafus) counseled (Dye). I’ve seen him a lot at different things. I knew his mom and dad. It’s a real tragedy for everyone involved.”

Along with being shot, Kenneth Neafus was also stabbed and beaten, Pendley said.

“Nobody but the Lord knows how that man suffered,” she said.

Neighbor Marilyn Renfrow said she is relieved that someone has been charged in the homicides.

“Now I can go outside and feel comfortable,” Renfrow said. “I feel a whole lot more comfortable.”

Dye’s bond is set at $100,000. He is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday afternoon.

— Follow assistant city editor Deborah Highland on Twitter at twitter.com/bgdnnewseditor or visit bgdailynews.com.