Suspect in roommate’s death sentenced for killing another victim in 1990 cold case

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (TCN) -- A man accused of killing his roommate in Colorado this year will spend 20 years to life in prison for his involvement in the death of another man nearly 34 years ago.

In a July 15 news release, the Guernsey County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office announced Carl "Butch" Hoopingarner’s sentencing guidelines for killing James Bradley.

According to the sheriff’s office, in August 1990, firefighters and deputies received a call about a fire in the parking lot of a cafe. When they arrived, they found a car "fully engulfed" in flames with a man "trapped" inside. The victim, Bradley, was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time, the coroner determined 30-year-old Bradley died of "massive body burns," and the manner of death was ruled as natural. The sheriff’s office reopened the case in 2021 after learning the car fire had been intentionally set.

Hoopingarner was charged with Bradley’s death in March.

Authorities started looking into Hoopingarner as a suspect in the cold case following a recent case out of Limon, Colorado. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said Limon Police performed a welfare check on 64-year-old Everett Kerr on Feb. 19 and found him deceased. Authorities believe Hoopingarner and Kerr got into an altercation, which led to Kerr’s death. After the fight, Hoopingarner fled in Kerr’s car.

According to the sheriff’s office, Hoopingarner and the victim were roommates.

On Feb. 20, officials found Kerr’s vehicle at a home in Buffalo, Ohio, "partially covered in a plastic tarp attempting to conceal the victim’s vehicle on the property."

Investigators tried to contact the homeowner in the yard before finding out Hoopingarner was inside the residence. Deputies said following a brief standoff, Hoopingarner exited the home approximately 30 minutes later and surrendered.

According to the sheriff’s office, during an interview, Hoopingarner admitted to killing Bradley, and he was charged with aggravated murder. He was also served an arrest warrant for aggravated trafficking in drugs out of Belmont County, Ohio, and first-degree murder for the death of Kerr.

Hoopingarner will be extradited to Colorado to face charges there if he is granted parole in Ohio.