Nolen Buchanan’s arraignment on murder charges in the deaths of his father, his father’s fiancee and his half-brother was delayed until Nov. 2 in the hearing before El Dorado Superior Court Judge Nelson Keith Brooks in Placerville.
Authorities allege that Nolen shot and killed his father, Adam Buchanan, fiancee Molly McKee and half-brother Gavin Buchanan, whose bodies were found in the burned-out wreckage of the family’s Greenwood vacation cabin.
The cabin off Highway 193 was destroyed by fire on Sept. 13 while the three were reportedly staying there, according to the Sacramento Bee newspaper.
Nolen had stayed behind in Benicia, a 30,000-population city on the northeastern shore of San Francisco Bay, and apparently became a suspect based on statements he made to police sent to notify him about the fire.
Authorities had said earlier that Nolen’s comments were inconsistent with evidence they found at the family’s home on Cambridge Drive and at Adam Buchanan’s construction company office in Benicia Industrial Park.
As an example, police said they found Adam Buchanan’s wallet and McKee’s purse near the office despite Nolan saying they had gone to the cabin.
Neighbors near the cabin said the Buchanans would drive up late Friday night and leave late Sunday or Monday, the newspaper said.
The family didn’t get mail at the town’s post office and rarely shopped at the town hardware store, Georgetown Divide Supply Co.
But a woman believed to be McAfee did stop at the store on the day of the fire to buy building supplies, store owner Jerry Hoyt told the newspaper after reviewing video from the store’s surveillance cameras.
Sheriff’s Department investigators have that footage, Hoyt said.
