An Effingham County grand jury has indicted an Effingham County man in the shooting deaths of his father and brother and for seriously wounding his mother.

Prosecutors presented their case to the grand jury throughout Thursday morning, and a true bill of indictment was returned against Craig Heidt early Thursday afternoon, Assistant District Attorney Michael Muldrew said.

Craig Heidt was indicted on two counts of murders in the August 2008 shooting deaths of his father Philip Heidt, a well-known realtor and developer, and his younger brother Carey Heidt, who was in business with their father. He was also indicted on aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault against his mother, Linda, who was badly wounded in the shooting that took place at Philip and Linda Heidt's home on Springfield-Egypt Road around 3 a.m. on Aug. 25, 2008.

He also was indicted on two counts of burglary and one count of criminal intent to commit arson in the first degree, among other charges.
His arraignment date has not been set.

“That will be scheduled by the court,” Muldrew said.

In the four-page indictment prosecutors allege that Craig Heidt used a shotgun to kill his father and brother and also shot his mother, inflicting serious wounds. The burglary charge stems from Craig Heidt entered his parents' home "without authority and with the intent to commit a felony," according to prosecutors.

They also charged that Craig Heidt poured gasoline on the floor of the home. 

Craig Heidt, 41, was arrested May 22 and charged with murder. He had a first appearance before a magistrate and bond was not set at that hearing, since a magistrate does not have the authority to set bond for a murder charge, according to Muldrew. Murder is one of several cases, including certain drug charges and kidnapping, where magistrates cannot set bond.

Any bond for Craig Heidt would have to be set by a Superior Court judge.

Heidt was booked into the Effingham County Jail but has been moved to another facility outside the county, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor said.