UPDATE: Friends, family react as five charged in Carl DeBrodie killing

FULTON – Five people were charged Tuesday in the death of Carl DeBrodie, and his loved ones said they're glad to see progress.

Mary Martin said she considers herself DeBrodie’s “second mother.” She said the family is excited, happy, sad and busy.

“We are thrilled, because it is the beginning of the other charges that would be coming down. We’ve waited over a year,” Martin said.

DeBrodie's body was found in a storage unit in Fulton over a year ago. According to court documents released last week, Debrodie endured extensive physical abuse leading up to his death. His body was found encased in concrete a week after he was reported missing. Police believe he was actually missing months before it was reported.

According to a press release from Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson, Sherry K. Paulo, 53, Anthony R. Flores, 58, Anthony R.K. Flores, 32, Shaina Osborne, 29, and Mary K. Paulo, 34, all of Fulton were all indicted for several offenses.

Sherry Paulo and Anthony R. Flores have been indicted with five counts:

Class D felony of client neglect

Class C felony of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree

Class D felony of abandonment of a corpse

Class A misdemeanor of making a false report of a missing person

Class A misdemeanor of making a false report of a missing person

Anthony R.K. Flores has been indicted with two counts:

Class A misdemeanor of making a false report of a missing person

Class A misdemeanor of making a false report of a missing person

Osborne and Mary K. Paulo have been indicted with one count each

Class A misdemeanor of making false reports of a missing person.

All five defendants were taken into custody by the Fulton Police Department early Tuesday morning, but the indictments were issued back in March. DeBrodie's friends and family have been asking why no charges had been filed.

Callaway County prosecutor Christopher Wilson said he waited on proceeding with the state criminal charges to be sure they "would have no negative impact on the federal investigation and/or potential prosecution of federal criminal charges."

Fulton Police Department Police Chief Steve Myers said he’s pleased with the progress of the investigation and is happy to see something finally happen.

“It’s been long time coming," he said. "We’re just happy we’re moving forward with the case at this point, and I think more charges will be coming down. This is the first step of moving forward, and I think we feel good about it."

He said trials for the five defendants should happen within the next few weeks.

DeBrodie's family are finding comfort where they can, including online.

Lilly Spicer created a Facebook group called, “#JusticeForCarlDeBrodie” last week. She met Martin after hearing about the case. She said the group has already more than 5,000 “likes.”

Spicer said this page is the start to the foundation she, Martin and DeBrodie’s family are planning to create to remember DeBrodie and advocate for awareness of mental health abuse.

“We’re waiting for justice, and Carl needs this justice,” Spicer said.