JACKSON COUNTY — A 22-year-old Eldorado man has been indicted on two counts first degree murder in connection with the February 2014 death of an SIU-Carbondale student.

Gaege Bethune was believed to be the last person to see Pravin Varughese alive. Bethune gave him a ride after a party the night Varughese went missing.

Police has said Varughese jumped from a car he was riding in and ran into the woods where his body was later found after an extensive search in a wooded area outside of Carbondale in February 2014.

The Jackson County coroner determined from an autopsy that Varughese died from hypothermia.

At the time, police said foul play was not suspected in his death.

However, on March 2, 2015, the Circuit Court of Jackson County appointed the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor to review the circumstances surrounding the Varughese’s death.

Specifically, the appellate prosecutor was tasked with determining whether sufficient evidence existed to seek an indictment of homicide.

On Thursday a grand jury, impaneled to investigate and evaluate potential charges in this case, returned a True Bill of Indictment – Two Counts of First Degree felony murder against Bethune.

Bethune is being held in the Jackson County Jail.