Trial in Boone deputy’s shooting death delayed until 2020
The possible death penalty trial for the man charged with fatally shooting a Boone County sheriff's deputy is being delayed for more than two years.
Murder
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Indiana man arraigned in 1988 killing of 8-year-old girl
An Indiana man charged in the 1988 rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl has been arraigned in her slaying. An Allen County judge entered a not guilty plea for 59-year-old John D. Miller Thursday morning and assigned him a public defender.
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.
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.
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.
2 more men charged with murder in deputy’s killing
Two more men have been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Boone County sheriff’s deputy.
Judge grants gag order against exoneration attorney
A northern Indiana judge has agreed to enter an injunction against a Chicago attorney accused of making “extrajudicial statements” in defense of a mentally-disabled man currently serving time for an Elkhart murder.
COA: Enhanced sentence not fundamental error
A man who sought a second resentencing after his 2003 murder convictions unsuccessfully argued that he was denied fundamental due process rights 15 years after being sentenced for four counts of murder.
COA: Errant CCS judgment entry can’t void murder retrial
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that retrials are not barred if a judgment of conviction is erroneously entered on a chronological case summary, letting stand a murder conviction after the retrial of a man charged with the death of his girlfriend’s infant daughter.
Attempted murder case reviewed; man dies 10 months after shooting
Prosecutors are reviewing the case of an Indiana man charged with attempted murder, because the man he is accused of shooting last summer died from his injuries.
Killer’s murder, arson convictions affirmed on appeal
A Vigo County man convicted of killing a woman and then setting fires in an attempt to cover up the evidence lost his bid to have some of his convictions overturned Tuesday.
Slain woman’s parents reach settlement in insurance suit
The parents of a northwestern Indiana woman who was fatally shot in 2011 have reached a settlement with an insurance company over damages in connection with the man convicted in her killing.
Second man sentenced in South Bend shootout that killed 2
The second of six men charged in connection with a double slaying in northern Indiana has been sentenced to decades in prison.
Justices reinstate murder, drug convictions after invited error
The Indiana Supreme Court has overturned a ruling for a convicted murderer to get a new trial and instead reinstated the murder and drug convictions after determining the defendant invited the structural error that compromised his right to an impartial jury.
COA affirms 20-year sentence for robbery in fatal drug deal
A man who set up his childhood friend in a “drug deal gone bad” and was sentenced to 20 years for his conviction of Level 2 felony robbery got no relief Monday from the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Mediation halts negligence insurance question in murder
The Indiana Supreme Court is no longer tasked with providing clarification on two conflicting rulings related to insurance coverage for parties accused of acting negligently when a co-insured is accused of acting intentionally or criminally, now that the parties to the underlying case have submitted the case for mediation.
Lake Station man gets 70 years in prison for girlfriend’s death
A Lake Station man convicted of killing his girlfriend has been sentenced to 70 years in prison. Jovanni Torres, 32, was sentenced Friday to 60 years for murder and 10 years for using a firearm in the crime.
Elkhart inmate files wrongful conviction petition claiming Elkhart Police coerced his statement
Nearly 13 years after he was found guilty of a murder he claims he did not commit and following a subsequent series of failed attempts at appellate and post-conviction relief, a developmentally disabled man has petitioned the Elkhart Circuit Court to overturn his conviction on the basis of new evidence he says proves his confession was coerced and his counsel was ineffective. Andrew Royer filed a petition to vacate the judgment against him on Wednesday.
Man charged with shooting Boone deputy seeks change of venue
A man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Boone County sheriff’s deputy wants his trial moved. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Anthony Baumgardt, who is charged in the fatal shooting of deputy Jacob Pickett.
Gary man facing death in slayings of wife, 2 kids loses PCR bid
A Gary man sentenced to death for killing his wife and two teenage stepchildren has lost his latest attempt to overturn his conviction – a post-conviction relief petition. Lake Superior Judge Samuel Cappas and Magistrate Judge Natalie Bokota determined in a ruling issued Friday that Kevin Isom of Gary failed to establish he had ineffective counsel at his murder trial or during the appeals process.