By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A northwest Missouri farmer, accused in connection with the disappearance and presumed death of two Wisconsin brothers, has been formally charged with tampering with the truck the two rented to drive to his farm.

Garland “Joey” Nelson of Braymer appeared in Caldwell County court via video Thursday for a bond hearing.

The only charge Nelson, 25, now faces is tampering with a motor vehicle. Authorities say Nelson admitted to driving the truck rented by 35-year-old Nicholas Diemel and his 24-year-old brother, Justin, who were reported missing July 21st when they visited Nelson’s farm.

Authorities found the truck abandoned at a commuter parking lot in Holt.

A search for the two men began to focus on the Nelson farm near Braymer this week. Clinton County Sheriff Larry Fish announced this week human remains were found on the Nelson farm. They have not been identified. No cause of death has been announced.

Court documents have been released outlining a checkered past. A court order issued in 2015 bars Nelson from having contact with a woman he resided with and from the residence they shared. Nelson served time in federal prison in a $262,000 cattle fraud scheme, involving the Farm Service Agency and Farm Bureau Insurance. He was 22 at the time.

Nelson was convicted of passing bad checks in 2015.

Nelson is being held in the Caldwell County jail in Kingston, without bond.

Meanwhile, Nelson’s mother tells the Kansas City Star she cannot see him being involved in their deaths.

Tomme Feil tells the newspaper she has no idea why her son would have moved the brothers’ vehicle.