4-11-08
Mja Inc Investigations has sent you 2 stories:
Published: April 05, 2008 01:46 pm
By MIKE FLETCHER
Kokomo Tribune staff writer
http://www.kokomotribune.com/archivesearch..._096134635.html Teen killed in eastside shooting
Police searching for suspect
A Kokomo teen died and another was critically injured
early Saturday after a man opened fire on a vehicle
they were in at Meadowlawn Apartments, 1930 S. Goyer
Road.
Kokomo police say Abby Rethlake, 18, and Morgan
Vetter, 19, were shot multiple times about 3:25 a.m.
in the parking lot by a black man, who fled in an
older-model, black, two-door car, Capt. Brian Thompson
reported.
Rethlake was taken to a local hospital, then airlifted
to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where she was
pronounced dead a short time later.
Vetter is being treated at Howard Regional Health
System, where she remains in critical condition, Lt.
Don Whitehead said Saturday afternoon.
Police said a third person, who was in the teen’s
white Monte Carlo, was treated and released for minor
injuries and is cooperating with investigators. His
name has not been released.
“We have several leads we’re following,” he said of
the suspect.
When police arrived, they found Vetter lying on Baxter
Road, which runs along the apartment complex. Rethlake
was still behind the wheel of the car. Both suffered
multiple gunshot wounds.
Police believe the trio were driving through the
parking lot when the suspect drove up and the two cars
parked. The suspect then got out of his car and opened
fire on the Monte Carlo with a large-caliber handgun
and fled, Whitehead said.
The suspect is described as standing 5 feet, 8 inches
tall, weighing approximately 185 to 190 pounds and
wearing a black hooded jacket. Witnesses said the man
fled in an unknown direction.
Detectives are unsure if the teens knew the gunman.
Neither of the victims lived at the apartments, which
Whitehead said was “not a high-crime area.”
This is the city’s first homicide of the year. Last
year, police reported only one homicide all year.
Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via
e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com
You can help:
Anyone having information regarding this investigation
is asked to contact Detective Mike Banush at (765)
456-7278, the Kokomo Police Hotline at (765) 456-7017,
or you may qualify for a cash reward by calling
Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS with
your anonymous tip.
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Published: April 10, 2008 10:33 am
By MIKE FLETCHER
Kokomo Tribune staff writer
http://www.kokomotribune.com/archivesearch..._101103336.html Drug arrests linked to homicide
Four of the suspects held on $1 million bail
Detectives with the criminal investigations unit of
the Kokomo Police Department teamed up with drug
enforcement officers to arrest nine people Wednesday
on warrants linked to Saturday’s homicide.
Seven of the nine face multiple charges for dealing in
cocaine and four of those seven are being held on $1
million bail at the Howard County jail, Kokomo Police
Capt. Brian Thompson reported Thursday.
Three of the men are from Detroit and the rest reside
in Kokomo.
None of the nine were charged in the homicide, but may
be linked to the shooting, the detective said.
“They are persons of interest detectives and drug
force officers came up with ... people that had some
contact with these girls,” Thompson said of the
arrests.
“It just so happens some of them were wanted on
warrants.”
One of the men, Mark Matthews, 38, resides in
Meadowlawn Apartments at 2402 Baxter Road. He was
riding in the back seat of the car Abby Rethlake, 18,
and Morgan Vetter, 19, were in when they were shot in
the apartment complex parking lot off South Goyer
Road.
Rethlake died from multiple gunshot wounds. Vetter
remains hospitalized, but is recovering from the
shooting.
Matthews suffered minor injuries from broken glass and
has been cooperating in the investigation, Thompson
said.
Matthews faces three Class A felony charges for
dealing in cocaine and one B felony dealing in cocaine
charge. His bail is set at $1 million.
Police said one Detroit man has not been positively
identified since he gave police several names
including Keith Taylor, Evil and Dejuan Taylor.
Investigators are awaiting results from an AFIX
(Automated Fingerprinting Identification System
Expanded) to determine his real name.
Police have said the homicide was drug related, but
would not give additional details of the
investigation.
The suspects were arrested between 7 and 11:30 p.m.
Wednesday either in traffic stops or at area
residences.
Two of the men, Keland Brown and Kristopher Weathers,
both of Detroit, were already being held at the Howard
County jail on other charges.
Rethlake and Vetter were shot multiple times by a
black man, who fled in an older-model, black, two-door
car, Thompson reported.
Anyone having information regarding this investigation
is asked to contact the Kokomo Police Hotline at (765)
456-7017, or you may qualify for a cash reward by
calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at
1-800-222-TIPS with your anonymous tip.
The following were arrested on warrants:
• Antonio Smith, 30, of 3650 S. 350 W., Kokomo two
counts dealing cocaine, $50,000 bail.
• Trent Brown, 21, 821 S. Locke St., three counts
dealing cocaine and one count of theft, $75,000 bail.
• Devaughn Thompson, 31, 905 S. Bell St., dealing
cocaine, $75,000 bail.
• Mark Matthews, 38, 2204 Baxter Road, four counts
dealing cocaine, $1,000,000 bail.
• John Doe AKA “Evil”, 25, Detroit, dealing cocaine,
$1,000,000 bail.
• Keland Brown, 24, Detroit, Mich., four counts of
dealing cocaine, $1,000,000 bail.
• Kristopher Weathers, 22, Detroit Mich., three counts
dealing cocaine, $1,000,000 bail.
Also arrested was Jaimee Meers, 19, Kokomo, on charges
of possession of marijuana, and Edward Wright, 25, of
714 E. Mulberry St., public intoxication.
All persons were transported to the Howard County
Jail, and the investigation continues.
Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via
e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com
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Mja Staff- Posted by:Tk Stout