From the Vanderburgh Co Prosecutor's Office:
Evansville, IN – April 30, 2013, Robert Hicks, age 56, was convicted of killing his girlfriend, Anna Jochem, in July of 2012 in Vanderburgh County Circuit Court. Hicks’ faces 45-65 years. Judge David Kiely will sentence Hicks on May 28, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. 

“We’re pleased with the verdict and hope it gives the family some closure to move on from this horrific tragedy,” Prosecutor Nick Hermann said Tuesday. “We want to thank the Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators from the Evansville Polce Department for their dedication and hard-work on this case.”

Knox County – Monday night, April 29, at approximately 9:59, a Knox County Deputy was driving down Wilbur Street in Vincennes when he was flagged down by friends of Ross A. Darkis, 42, who resided at 215 Wilbur Street. Darkis was intoxicated and was in possession of a handgun on his front porch. He had been arguing with his girlfriend earlier in the evening and was very upset according to his friends. Additional officers from Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Vincennes City Police arrived. Officers attempted to get Darkis to surrender his weapon, but he refused. Officers used a taser and a weapon that discharges a small bean-bag in attempt to diffuse the situation, but both non-lethal weapons were unsuccessful. At approximately 10:25 p.m., Darkis raised the handgun he was holding toward the officers. In order to protect themselves and other officers on scene, several of the officers fired their weapons. Darkis was struck multiple times and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes where he was pronounced dead several minutes later. The identity of the Vincennes City Police Officers and Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy involved in the shooting are not being released at this time. No officers were injured. 

The investigation is continuing. 

DECEASED: 
• Ross A. Darkis, 42, 215 Wilbur Street, Vincennes, IN 

Investigating Agency: Indiana State Police 
Assisting Agencies: Knox County Sheriff’s Department, Vincennes City Police and Knox County Coroner’s Office 

On the evening of Thursday, April 18 2013, Patsy Jean Deforrest died as a result of injuries she sustained in a crash in the 1800 block of Wimberg Road on Sunday, April 14th. Deforrest was a passenger on a motorcycle that struck a car head-on. 

The operator of the motorcycle, Lanny Ray Josey, has been transported to an Indianapolis hospital and his medical status is unknown. 

The charges expected to be filed against Josey are now: OMVWI Causing Death – Class B Felony 


SOURCE: Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office News Release

Sullivan County—The Indiana State Police Putnamville District, in conjunction with Indiana Conservation Officers, has concluded a nearly two month long investigation into the disappearance of Dugger (Sullivan County) resident 36-year-old Shane R. Porter. 

On Monday April 1st, 2013, a body was seen floating in the Wabash River near Patton, Illinois which is approximately three miles north of Mount Carmel, IL. An autopsy was conducted in Vincennes, Indiana by Forensic Pathologist Dr. James M. Jacoby and utilizing dental records; the deceased was identified by Wabash County (IL) Coroner Larry Hodgson as Shane R. Porter. Coroner Hodgson has listed the preliminary cause of death as drowning pending toxicology results. Questions concerning the autopsy should be directed to the Wabash County (IL) Coroner’s Office at 618-262-4411. 

Porter was last seen at his residence on Friday evening, February 8th at approximately 5:15. Family members reported Porter missing to Indiana State Police after he failed to report for work later that same evening in Vincennes, or make contact with any of his relatives. Around 8:50 p.m. on the evening Porter was last seen, a man was spotted swimming in the Wabash River on the south edge of Vincennes. A 911 call to Vincennes Police from a bystander resulted in specially trained and equipped Indiana Conservation Officers searching the river by boat until a recovery was made on April 1st. Porter’s car was found abandoned on February 10th in a City of Vincennes public parking area near Memorial Bridge. 

Hundreds of Indiana State Police and Indiana Conservation Officer man-hours were used in this investigation. ISP troopers, detectives, and crime scene investigators, conducted several interviews, gathered physical evidence, and traced the final steps leading up to Porter’s disappearance. Indiana Conservation Officers assisted with search parties, conducted interviews, patrolled numerous miles of the Wabash River over several days, all looking for signs of Shane Porter.. 

Questions concerning the Indiana Conservation Officers search efforts for Shane R. Porter should be directed to ICO Joe Haywood at 812-890-6604. 

Questions concerning the ISP investigation should be directed to Sergeant Joe Watts. 

Family of the deceased has been notified. 

Assisting the Indiana State Police and the Indiana Conservation Officers were the Vincennes Police and Fire Departments, Vincennes Township Fire Department, Ohio Valley Search and Rescue, Wabash County (IL) Sheriff’s Office, Wabash County (IL) Water & Rescue Team, Wabash County (IL) Emergency Management Services, and the Wabash County (IL) Coroner’s Office.


SOURCE: Indiana State Police

Perry County: This afternoon at approximately 1:38 a Velpen woman was killed after she fell out of the vehicle she was riding in. 

The investigation reveals that Joseph W. Englebrecht, 30, Evansville was driving and Debra J. Harris, 54, Velpen was riding unrestrained in the right front area of a 2000 International Fed-Ex Ground truck. They had just made a delivery and were traveling west on Leopold Road east of Lavender Road enroute to make other deliveries when Harris fell out of the truck as it rounded a curve. 

Harris was taken from the scene by ambulance to an air ambulance and flown to Perry County Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead. 

Englebrecht was not injured and there was no damage to the vehicle. 

Deceased: (Family Notified) 
Debra J. Harris, 54, Velpen 

Investigating Officers: Sergeant Chad Dick and Trooper Mark Lehmkuhler 
Assisting Agencies: Perry County Fire and Rescue, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer and the Perry County Coroner’s Office


SOURCE: Indiana State Police 

New Castle – Around 11:05 p.m. on 2/14 of this year an inmate was found unconscious at the bottom of a stairwell inside the New Castle Correctional Facility. The inmate, Jeremiah K. Taylor, age 37 of Ligonier Indiana, was transported by ambulance to Henry County Hospital then flown by medical helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he succumbed to his injuries. Taylor had been incarcerated at New Castle since July of 2012, and had been serving an eight year sentence for a conviction on a Child Molestation charge out of Noble County. 

State Police Investigator Scott Jarvis completed his investigation of the incident and turned the case over to the Henry County Prosecutor’s Office for their review. After their review the Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant for Class “A” Felony Murder for an inmate formerly housed at the New Castle Facility. 

Arrested was IDOC inmate Taylor J. Baughn, age 21. Baughn was moved to the Pendleton Correctional Facility from New Castle shortly after the investigation began. At the time of the incident Baughn was serving a sentence out of Vanderburgh County for Child Molestation, and was due to be released in August of this year. 

The New Castle Correctional Facility is run by GEO, a private company contracted by Indiana Department of Corrections to run the facility. 


SOURCE: Indiana State Police - Nixle

Shortly after 7:00 PM this evening (Saturday, March 16, 2013), Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the area of Boonville New Harmony Rd. near the overpass at I164 in reference to crash with injuries involving a motorcycle. After arriving on scene deputies found a motorcyclist being assisted by other motorists, and paramedics from Scott Township Fire Department. 

The crash involved two vehicles, one being a 1975 Suzuki Motorcycle, and the other a 2007 Toyota Sequoia. The preliminary investigation indicates that the motorcycle was east bound on Boonville New Harmony Rd., and the Toyota was north bound on the exit ramp from north bound I164. The Toyota stopped at the stop sign at the intersection with Boonville New Harmony Road, and turned left in front of the east bound motorcycle. 

The driver of the motorcycle was transported to St Mary’s Hospital by a Scott Township Ambulance. The driver was later pronounced dead at St. Mary’s hospital. 

The driver of the Toyota was not injured. 

Sheriff’s Office crash reconstructionist was summoned to the scene. The crash remains under investigation. 


Toyota Driver 
Lori Ellen Seiboldt, Evansville IN 
Motorcycle Driver (Deceased) 
Identification pending notification of next of kin 


SOURCE: Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office - Nixle

Evansville Police are investigating a death at the Hampton Inn at 8000 Eagle Crest Blvd. 

Police were called to the hotel when an employee saw a man pushing an unresponsive woman on a luggage cart through the hotel lobby. 

The man placed the woman in a car, but was not able to leave before officers arrived. Officers checked on the woman and determined she was deceased. The man was detained by officers. The cause or manner of death are unknown at this time. 

The man and woman were registered guest at the hotel. Their names and where they are from are not being released at this time.

SOURCE: Evansville Police Department - Nixle

Evansville Police have arrested 27 year old JERRY WAYNE DULIN II and charged him with Murder in connection with the shooting death of 35 year old Donnie Dejarnette. 

Dejarnette was found dead in an SUV in the 1700 block of S. New York after officers responded to an accident with injury call around 4:35pm on Tuesday. The call changed to a shots fired call as officers began to arrive in the area. 

Investigators believe Dejarnette was driving the SUV and DULIN was in the backseat. Another man was in the front passenger seat. Investigators believe the three were trying to locate a box that had been mailed to Dejarnette, but was stolen after it was delivered. 

Investigators believe that while Dejarnette was driving south on New York, DULIN shot him in the head. The vehicle left the roadway and traveled through several yards before striking a tree and stopping. The front passenger and DULIN both got out of the vehicle after the wreck. There was a struggle between the two men and, according to a witness, the gun was discharged at least one additional time. Both left the scene before officers arrived. 
DULIN was located nearby within a few minutes of the crime. He was taken into custody without incident. A gun believed to be used in the crime was found near the accident scene. 

The man identified as the passenger was interviewed by investigators and released.


SOURCE: Evansville Police Department - Nixle

Evansville Police are still investigating a homicide in the 1700 block of S. New York Ave. 

Officers were originally sent to the location for an accident with injuries. As officers arrived, 911 dispatch received at least one call of shots being fired at the same location. Officers located a vehicle that had struck a tree at the corner of New York and Sweetser. A man was found deceased in the vehicle. 

Several witnesses told officers that after the wreck, shots were fired. Two men then ran from the scene. Witnesses gave descriptions of the two men. Both men, who had fled in different directions, were located within a few blocks of the scene. They are both being detained as part of the investigation. Investigators recovered a handgun near the scene. 

Investigators are not releasing names of any of the involved parties at his time.


SOURCE: Evansville Police Department - Nixle