Two men are accused of the murder of a Triadelphia family. And new information shows those deaths may have been part of a robbery conspiracy and a robbery gone wrong.

Both Jeffrey R. Woods and William R. Spears appeared in magistrate's court for their preliminary hearing. They're being charged with first degree murder in the shooting deaths of Bernie and Deborah Conniff and Jonathan Noon.

More than a dozen law enforcement officials secured the courtroom, and in the audience, people who knew the victims sat.

First on the stand, Magistrate Harry Radcliffe heard from a WV state trooper with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. He recalled testimony from a witness who said she was part of that robbery conspiracy -- not only with Woods and Spears but with Jonathan Noon, who was killed that night.

She said a number of items were stolen from the Conniff home, including $30,000, cash, diamonds and rubies, and weapons. And she said Noon told the defendants where to find the own items in his parents' home. He also asked not to be harmed in the deal.

The investigator also described how the robbery may have taken place, including a shootout when the plan was foiled. He said after the robbery went bad, the defendants fled to Ohio, hid the evidence, ditched Noon's pickup truck, and stayed at a St. Clairsville hotel.

An investigator from the Belmont County Sheriff's Department also took the stand.

Again, the preceding details are only based on testimony from the preliminary hearing.

From the Ohio County Mobile Newsroom

-Brandon Weghorst, NEWS 9