08/14/1990 - Report #183 - Victims: Todd D. Pigg, Jr and Benjamin C. Hurt - Location: St. Charles, MO
MCS Report #183
Classification: Homicide
Requesting Agency: St. Charles City Police Department
Date of Activation: 08/14/1990
Commander and Department: Maj. Thomas O'Connor, Maryland Heights PD
Deputy Report Officer and Department: Det. Sgt. Robert Lowery Jr, Florissant PD
Victims: Todd D. “T.J.” Pigg, Jr. and Benjamin C. Hurt
Suspects: Two juvenile boys
The St. Charles City Police Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad in investigating the deaths of Todd “T.J.” Pigg Jr (age 7) and Benjamin Hurt (age 8). At approximately 6:58pm, police officers responded to the area of 200 Briarcliff Drive for a report of two missing children. It was reported Todd “T.J.” Pigg, Jr and his friend, Benjamin Hurt, were missing after riding their bicycles in a wooded area.
The search for the boys focused on a heavily wooded area in the 3500 block of Elm Street. The ground and air search included on-duty and off-duty police officers, the fire department, the St. Louis County Police Department helicopter, and numerous civilian volunteers.
During the search, both boys’ bicycles were located. At approximately 10:50pm, searchers located the bodies of both boys in the woods. They were both nude and had both been strangled with the shoelaces from their shoes.
As a result of this investigation, two teenage boys were charged in T.J. and Benjamin’s deaths. A 13 year-old boy was charged with two counts of Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of sodomy. A 10 year-old boy was charged with a felony charge of Hindering Prosecution. Children suspects under the age of 14 cannot be tried as adults and their names cannot be released.
