Antioch man accused of two murders awaits psych eval results

The defense attorney for a 55-year-old Antioch man accused of killing his wife and mother said he awaiting the results of a psychological evaluation before being able to go to trial. Attorney Thomas Meyers said he has been given a court date of Sept. 22 by Lake County Judge Mark Levitt to present the report about Billy Varner. Varner, of the 1200 block of Main Street, is in Lake County jail without bond for using a machete and a knife to kill his wife, Peggy Henderson, 61, and suffocate his mother, Dorothy Varner, 82, authorities said. Authorities said Varner attacked Henderson on Oct. 26 after she went to bed complaining of a migraine headache. He told police he attacked her to ease her suffering, authorities said. Two days later, he killed Dorothy Varner with a plastic bag and a towel after she grew suspicious of what happened to Peggy Henderson, authorities said. He stole a van from his brother and fled the state, authorities said, but was captured a week later in North Dakota.