By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
The 33-year old Ewing, NE man accused of killing a married couple early Saturday morning, made his first appearance at Antelope County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon where he faces 5 felony charges.
25-year old Victoria Lee and 30-year old Gabino Vargas, lived together in Ewing, NE, married not even 2 months before being killed this weekend.
The man police think is to blame is 33-year old Matthew Hinrichsen, who is reportedly, Victoria Lee's ex-boyfriend.
Deputies responded to a disturbance call early Saturday morning at the home.
Dell Potter from Ewing says he listened to it all on his police scanner at home.
"And then it wasn't very much later that they dispatched our Fire Department saying there was a trailer house on fire," said Potter.
It was this incident that left Lee and Vargas dead and Hinrichsen in jail.
He's being charged with 5 felony counts: two counts of 1st degree murder, for which he could face the death penalty if found guilty, two felony weapon charges and an arson charge.
This extremely violent crime has left the people of the small town of Ewing, Nebraska in shock.
"It's awfully hard, I mean, everybody knows everybody in these small towns. It's hard to not really be involved in it because you know his family and everything like that," said Potter.
The victim's family members were openly emotional at Tuesday's hearing.
There is still no bond set for Hinrichsen.
The next time Hinrichsen will appear in court will be next Tuesday. That's when his attorney will announce whether he's waiving his right to a preliminary hearing or the date of that hearing will be set.
