St. Joseph, Mo. ? Three suspects have pleaded not guilty in the shooting deaths of a St. Joseph couple.

Terrell Eugene Dawson, 24, and Javonty R. Steward, 22, pleaded not guilty Friday to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action in the April 25 shooting deaths of Danny Watson Jr. and Dawn Thornton.

Kenderal Rogers, 19, pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder for his role in the homicides.

In three separate arraignments, Buchanan County Judge Ronald Taylor read each man the charges against him, while family members of the victims listened and wiped away tears.

“It’s the first time we’ve seen them, and it won’t be the last,” said Gloria Watson, Watson’s mother. “It’s just heartbreaking.”

Bond was denied for Dawson and Steward; a $500,000 bond had already been set for Rogers.

The three remain in custody in Jackson County, where they face charges of kidnapping, armed criminal action and robbery in the first degree.

The three were named as suspects in May after they were charged in Jackson County with kidnapping a St. Joseph man the night before Watson’s and Thornton’s bodies were found by their children.