Tremaine Amos, 25, of Bay Point and Darryl Hudson and Montrell Hall, both 23 and of Pittsburg, were each charged with two special circumstances that could result in the death penalty if they are convicted: murder in the commission of a robbery and murder in the commission of a burglary.

According to reports, Farrance was apparently targeted for the marijuana and guns the family kept in the house. Farrance's son reportedly grew the marijuana for medicinal purposes. "Without regard to the legality of the extensive marijuana-growing operation that was taking place in the residence, we regard Mr. Farrance as an innocent victim in this case," Contra Costa County prosecutor Harold Jewett said in a statement.

Farrance was 59, and as senior technical editor for PC World, had been the longest-serving editor at the magazine at the time of the shooting.