Two people were arrested on Sunday morning following the death of 76-year-old Rodney Willis at his home in The Rock last Wednesday.
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Police arrested the pair at a Railway Street address in The Rock.
The arrests came only two days after the completion of the forensic examination of Mr Willis’ home and after interviewing friends and neighbours of the elderly man.
The 23 year old woman and 25 year old man were taken into custody at Wagga Police Station and both charged with murder.
The man was also charged for an outstanding warrant for an unrelated offence.
The pair has been refused bail and are due to appear at Wagga Local Court today (Wednesday April 23).
Police were called to Mr Willis' home on Scott Street, The Rock at 11.30am April 16, following reports a man was in cardiac arrest.
CPR was performed for 45 minutes by ambulance and police but they pronounced him dead at the scene just after noon.
Police treated the death as suspicious from the beginning having spent the afternoon interviewing family and nearby residents.
Mr Willis’ body was sent to Sydney for a post-mortem examination.
Residents of The Rock and surrounds have been shaken by the murder of 76-year-old local Rodney Willis.
Members of The Rock community groups, friends and neighbours remembered Mr Willis as a man who was clever, private and good-humoured.
On Wednesday he was found in cardiac arrest but emergency crews were unable to revive him after performing CPR for 45 minutes.
Mr Willis was a foundation member of The Rock and District Men’s Shed, a church organist, volunteer with Meals on Wheels, and an active member of the Emily Centre Friendship Group.
Kevin Verdon, friend to Mr Willis and The Rock and District Men’s Shed secretary described Mr Willis as “gentle and an avid reader”.
“He was a gentle man - his first love was gardening, he used to write poetry and he was an avid reader who loved the old movies,” he said.
A memorial will be held today (Wednesday April 23) at The Rock and District Men’s Shed starting just after midday.
Mr Willis was unmarried and his passions included poetry, photography and gardening.
Isabel Seberry volunteered alongside Mr Willis at Meals on Wheels and described the elderly man as sweet and reliable.
“We’ll miss him terribly,” Ms Seberry said.
“He was at the Emily Centre on Tuesday night, and regularly comes here twice a week to visit and chat.”
