Articles

Mom of Fort Wayne girl killed in ’88 hopes defendant gets death

The mother of an 8-year-old Fort Wayne girl who was raped and killed in 1988 wants prosecutors to seek the death penalty against the man accused of the crimes. Prosecutors on Tuesday declined to discuss whether they’ll seek the death penalty for 59-year-old John Miller in the killing of April Tinsley. But the girl’s mother, Janet Tinsley, told the Journal Gazette that she wants to be present if Miller is put to death.

Read More

Prosecutor in Fort Wayne girl’s 1988 killing hails genealogy databases

An Indiana prosecutor who’s preparing formal charges against a man in the 1988 abduction, rape and killing of an 8-year-old Fort Wayne girl says genealogy databases are powerful new tools for investigators. Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richards said in an affidavit that investigators consulted a company that was able to narrow DNA in the Tinsley case to Miller and his brother using publicly available genealogy database research. 

Read More

Applications open for Allen County judicial vacancy

An Allen County superior court judge will retire at the end of this year, prompting the Allen Superior Court Judicial Nominating Commission to begin the process of selecting his replacement. The vacancy will occur in December when Judge John F. Surbeck, Jr. retires from his position in the Allen Superior Court Criminal Division.

Read More

Suspect in 1988 killing of Fort Wayne girl, 8, appears in court

A judge has given prosecutors until Thursday to formally charge a man who is being held in the 1988 slaying of an 8-year-old Fort Wayne girl. John D. Miller, 59, of Grabill was arrested Sunday on preliminary murder, child molesting and criminal confinement charges in the abduction, rape and killing of April Marie Tinsley.

Read More

Planned Parenthood closes Fort Wayne center, citing harassment

Planned Parenthood has closed its health center in Indiana’s second-largest city, blaming intimidation and harassment by supporters of a local anti-abortion group. Planned Parenthood said it closed its Fort Wayne health center Monday following growing harassment and intimidation of the center’s staff that it blamed on supporters of Allen County Right to Life.

Read More

Decatur Township getting box for safely surrendering babies

The southwest side of Indianapolis is getting its first baby box where people may anonymously surrender a healthy newborn without fear of criminal prosecution. The box announced Thursday is going in at the Decatur Township Fire Department. The padded, climate-controlled box notifies authorities when it’s been used.

Read More

Fort Wayne crash that killed 73-year-old leads to probation

An 18-year-old Fort Wayne man has been sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty in a crash that killed a 73-year-old man. Liam B. Burke was given his punishment Friday after earlier entering the plea to felony reckless homicide and criminal recklessness and misdemeanor criminal recklessness.

Read More

County inmates denied right to vote get certified as class

A federal judge in Fort Wayne recently certified a class of Allen County Jail inmates who were denied the right to vote in the November 2016 general election. The attorney representing the class said the case represents an opportunity to avoid similar future problems in other counties.

Read More

Justices to hear appeal over trains blocking road crossings

The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether state or federal law controls how long trains may block road crossings. The Court of Appeals reversed the trial court, ruling that federal law does not preempt state laws that forbid trains from blocking crossings for more than 10 minutes.

Read More
airbnb-screengrab040418-450bp.jpg

Law limiting short-term rental regulations by cities may face test from Carmel, others

As the popularity of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO has increased, local governments across the country have stepped in to regulate when and where their residents can lease their homes to temporary guests. Indiana cities have been no exception, but the 2018 General Assembly limited the extent to which municipalities can regulate the local short-term rental industry.

Read More

12 apply to Court of Appeals

The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission has received applications from 12 applicants to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Indiana Court of Appeals.

Read More

Indiana justices to rule on lawyer in death penalty case

The Indiana Supreme Court will consider an appeal that challenges a ruling to remove a Fort Wayne defense attorney from a death penalty case. Allen Superior Judge Fran Gull removed defense attorney Nikos Nakos from Marcus Dansby’s death penalty case, citing his lack of training.

Read More

Indiana Court Decisions — March 1-14, 2018

7th Circuit Court of Appeals March 2 Civil Plenary — Noncitizen Transgender Name Change John Doe, formerly known as Jane Doe v. Eric Holcomb, in his official capacity as Governor of the State of Indiana, et al. 17-1756 A Mexican native with asylum in the United States cannot continue with his suit against various Indiana […]

Read More