Elkhart man charged with murder in beating death of boy, 4
A northern Indiana man has been charged with murder in the death of a 4-year-old boy who died at a hospital after being beaten unconscious, authorities said.
Elkhart
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New murder trial affirmed for Elkhart man with mental disability
A man with a mental disability who has for years claimed he was wrongfully convicted of an Elkhart murder and who spent more than 15 years behind bars can proceed to a new trial after the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a post-conviction relief order vacating his murder conviction.
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Home again: Elkhart man released after 15 years in prison, but case likely isn’t over
Andrew Royer has been granted a new trial after a special judge determined his 2005 trial was tainted by false evidence and coercive investigative techniques that exploited his mental disability. But the possibility of a retrial remains.
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Articles
Elkhart man gets life for role in woman’s torture-slaying
A northern Indiana man convicted for his role in the 2019 torture-slaying of a woman whose body was dumped in southern Michigan has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Elkhart man gets 60 years in woman’s 2019 torture-slaying
A northern Indiana man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty for his role in the 2019 torture-slaying of a woman whose body was dumped in southern Michigan.
Former Elkhart mayor dies after COVID-19 illness
Former Elkhart Mayor Dave Miller died Sunday at age 62.
2 charged in dismemberment of Fort Wayne man appear in court
Two men charged in the death and dismemberment of a 55-year-old man requested public defenders during their initial court appearances Tuesday.
Justices: Juvenile convicted of attempted murder failed to show parent ‘essential’
When juvenile defendants are tried in adult court, parents who are also witnesses may be excluded from witness-separation orders if their children establish them as “essential” to the presentation of evidence, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled. However, applying that holding to the facts of the case before them, justices concluded an Elkhart County teen failed to establish his mom was “essential” to his attempted murder defense.
Fired atheist teacher loses appeal alleging school broke confidentiality
A middle-school German teacher who settled a lawsuit claiming he was fired because he was an atheist failed to prove Middlebury Community Schools violated confidentiality terms of the settlement, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
COA overturns forfeiture judgment, but splits on allowing owners to use seized cash for defense
Summary judgment for the state has been overturned in an action seeking to forfeit nearly $9,000, with a majority of judges holding that owners of seized property can used seized cash to help fund their defense. A dissenting judge, however, thinks that ruling exceeds statutory limits.
State argues against new trial for man freed in 2002 Elkhart killing
It’s been more than 15 years since Andrew Royer was convicted of an Elkhart County murder and more than nine months after he was freed due to concerns over his confession and other evidence, but his case is not over yet. Instead, it’s back at the Indiana Court of Appeals, where the state is asking for the reversal of an order giving Royer a new trial.
Supreme Court creates rule for appointing commercial court judges
As Indiana’s commercial court program expands, the Indiana Supreme Court is implementing new rules to govern the appointment of judges to the specialized dockets.
Law firm mergers expected to rebound in 2021
The global pandemic halted the skyrocketing law firm mergers of recent years. However, the forces driving these combinations in the past have continued despite the coronavirus outbreak and will likely ignite more deals if people are able to return to some sort of a pre-pandemic lifestyle.
Tax Court remands valuation of Elkhart property
The Indiana Board of Tax Review must revisit its valuations of land owned by a northern Indiana manufacturer, the Indiana Tax Court has ruled.
Indiana commercial courts branching out
Indiana’s commercial court docket is expanding for the first time, with four new venues opening in 2021. Hamilton, Madison, St. Joseph and Vigo counties will join Allen, Elkhart, Floyd, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties in offering the specialized business dockets.
Indiana woman gets 6½ years for financing terrorism
An Indiana woman who pleaded guilty to providing financial support to the Islamic State group has been sentenced to 6½ years in prison, the Justice Department said Monday.
Reversal: Trial court can consider merits of sentence modification motion
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed for a convicted man seeking to modify his sentence, finding that the Elkhart Superior Court erred when it determined that it lacked the statutory authority to consider the merits of his motion.
Justices to hear case of first impression involving teen’s attempted murder conviction
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear a case of first impression involving a teen’s attempted murder conviction. The case previously divided an appellate panel that reversed the conviction based on the exclusion of the 15-year-old defendant’s mother from the courtroom.
State reports highest daily COVID-19 death toll in 2 months; cases top 75K
The Indiana State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 884 new COVID-19 cases, sending total cases in the state past 75,000 since the beginning of the pandemic. The state also reported 25 new deaths due to COVID-19, the highest number of deaths in a daily report since June 11.
COA affirms sentence for man’s rape, battery convictions
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a man’s decades-long sentence for his rape and battery convictions, finding nothing wrong with his sentence or the decision to admit certain statements from the victim.
More Indiana cities mandating masks as virus illnesses grow
More Indiana cities have decided to impose mask mandates as health officials reported Monday the state’s most hospitalizations of people with coronavirus-related illnesses in nearly a month.
Court awards habeas relief in Elkhart murder case for ineffective trial, PCR counsel
A man convicted as a teenager of an Elkhart murder has been granted habeas relief after a federal judge determined both his trial and post-conviction counsel were ineffective.