GUILTY IN - Willie Lee Smith Jr., 55, murdered during a meetup for sex, Flora, June, 2021 *2 Arrested*

[FrostedGlass]

Suspects in Lafayette man's murder held without bond until hearings
[snips] Note: the murder happened in June but charges weren't filed until July.
DELPHI, Ind. — Willie Lee Smith Jr. drove to Flora on Wednesday July 16 to have sex with Shianne Brooks-Brown for $80, according to probable cause affidavits filed in Carroll County Court.
Instead, Tyron Leftridge, who Brooks-Brown told police used her phone to arrange the meeting, was hiding while the two met on East Clem Street in Flora before Leftridge ran from his hiding spot and hit Smith twice in the head with a baseball bat, according to the affidavit.
Smith, who was found inside a home on East Clem Street unresponsive by the homeowners, was transported to an Indianapolis hospital where he later died, according to the affidavit.
*****************
Shianne Brooks-Brown
Case Number 08C01-2106-MR-000001
Court Carroll Circuit Court
Filed: 07/14/2021
Charges
01] 06/16/2021 35-42-1-1(2): Murder
02] 06/16/2021 35-42-5-1(a)(1)/F2: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury - Injury to someone other than a def

04/28/2022 = Final PreTrial Conference
05/09/2022 = Jury Trial
******************
Tyron Leftridge
Case Number 08C01-2106-F2-000005
Court Carroll Circuit Court
Type F2 - Felony 2
Filed: 06/18/2021
Charges
01] 06/16/2021 35-42-5-1(a)(1)/F2: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury - Injury to someone other than a def
02] 06/16/2021 35-42-2-1.5/F3:Aggravated Battery Use when the assault poses a substantial risk of death.
03] 06/16/2021 35-42-1-1(2): Murder

05/19/2022 = Hearing on Motion to Suppress
07/11/2022 = Jury Trial

 

[FrostedGlass]

There are a couple of conflicting statements as to how Smith was found. There are pics of them in the second link. He seemed to be a nice guy who took a wrong turn.

Early Wednesday morning, a Flora couple awoke to find Willie Smith, Jr., unresponsive on their living room couch, suffering from head trauma. Court documents do not state how Smith ended up there.

2 arrested in Flora dating app murder case

Lacy Cruea lives near the crime scene. She said her neighbor found Smith at their home and called for help.
"She told her husband and I guess he thought it was an intruder at first, but when they opened the door, the guy was all bloody, so they brought him in the house and set him on the couch and called 911," Cruea said.

Second murder charge filed in beating death of 55-year-old man in Flora | wthr.com

 

[FrostedGlass]

When I first read about this, I read there was a third person but the mention was so fleeting that I forgot about it. When I was looking for an update, I came across a Reddit post that named a person who had also been arrested. That is the only mention I've ever seen about this person.

However, when I checked out the name, I found her court record for murder. Her charge date is one day off from the other two cases but I guess the chances of there being 2 murders in Flora one day apart is slim. I also found this one line in the Comet
Circuit Court - Carroll County Comet
"Jennifer L. Dean was charged with murder and battery resulting in serious bodily injury."

So I'm going to post her case here. Her trial trial ran from April 18-22 but I have not seen anything about it in the news. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places?

Jennifer L. Dean
Case Number 08C01-2107-MR-000002
Court Carroll Circuit Court
Type MR - Murder
Filed 07/14/2021
Charges
01] 06/15/2021 35-42-1-1(2): Murder
02] 06/15/2021 35-42-5-1(a)(1)/F2: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury - Injury to someone other than a def

04/18/2022 = Jury Trial
Session: 04/18/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 04/19/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 04/20/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 04/21/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 04/22/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

04/19/2022 = Information Filed
State of Indiana files Amended Count 2.
Filed By: State of Indiana
File Stamp: 04/18/2022

 

[FrostedGlass]

Finally... Dean's update:

04/18/2022 = Jury Trial
Session: 03/07/2022 9:00 AM, Rescheduled
Session: 03/08/2022 9:00 AM, Cancelled
Session: 03/09/2022 9:00 AM, Cancelled
Session: 03/10/2022 9:00 AM, Cancelled
Session: 03/11/2022 9:00 AM, Cancelled
Session: 04/18/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 04/19/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 04/20/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 04/21/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 04/22/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Result: Continued

04/19/2022 = Information Filed
State of Indiana files Amended Count 2.
Filed By: State of Indiana
File Stamp: 04/18/2022

04/28/2022 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Sentencing Hearing scheduled for 05/26/2022 at 11:30 AM.

05/26/2022 = Sentencing Hearing
Session: 05/26/2022 11:30 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Update for Brooks-Brown; nothing new for Leftridge

05/02/2022 = Praecipe for Transcript Filed
PRAECIPE
Filed By: Brooks-Brown, Shianne

05/02/2022 = Order Issued
Hearing on Motion for Funds for a Psychological Evaluation is set for June 2, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. Jury Trial scheduled May 9, 2022, is vacated. Trial will be re-set upon determination of Defendant's Motion for Funds for a Psychological Evaluation, per form.
Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

05/02/2022 = Order Issued
Order on Praecipe for Transcript entered, per form.
Judicial Officer:
Diener, Benjamin A.

05/02/2022 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Jury Trial scheduled for 05/09/2022 at 9:00 AM was cancelled. Reason: Judicial Action.

05/02/2022 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Jury Trial scheduled for 05/10/2022 at 9:00 AM was cancelled. Reason: Judicial Action.

05/02/2022 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Jury Trial scheduled for 05/11/2022 at 9:00 AM was cancelled. Reason: Judicial Action.

05/02/2022 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Hearing scheduled for 06/02/2022 at 11:00 AM.

05/09/2022 = CANCELED Jury Trial
Reason: Judicial Action
Comment: 1st Setting

06/02/2022 = Hearing
Session: 06/02/2022 11:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Comment: Psychological Evaluation

 

[FrostedGlass]

Nothing new at all for Brooks-Brown.
No new dates for Dean but they have the pre-sentence investigation report in. There's no mention of a plea deal in the records nor is there anything about the trial except the notation that it was continued.

04/28/2022 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Sentencing Hearing scheduled for 05/26/2022 at 11:30 AM.

05/16/2022 = Pre-Sentence Investigation Report Filed
Filed By:Carroll County Probation Department

05/26/2022 = Sentencing Hearing
Session:05/26/2022 11:30 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

**********************
Leftridge; no word on what happened with the motion to suppress

05/19/2022 = Hearing on Motion to Suppress
Session:05/19/2022 1:00 PM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

07/11/2022 = Jury Trial
Comment:2ND SETTING

 

[FrostedGlass]

Dean has a new sentencing hearing date:

05/16/2022 = Pre-Sentence Investigation Report Filed
Filed By: Carroll County Probation Department

05/25/2022 = Motion for Continuance Filed
Filed By: Dean, Jennifer L.

05/25/2022 = Order Granting Motion for Continuance
Sentencing hearing continued to July 7, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., per form.

05/26/2022 = Amended Pleading Filed
Motion For Continuance
Filed By: Dean, Jennifer L.

07/07/2022 = Sentencing Hearing
Session: 05/26/2022 11:30 AM, Rescheduled
Session: 07/07/2022 10:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Brooks-Brown Update; no comments on the Psych evaluation but she does have a trial date.

06/02/2022 = Hearing
Session: 06/02/2022 11:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Comment: Psychological Evaluation

11/14/2022 = Jury Trial
Session: 11/14/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 11/15/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Session: 11/16/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Dean's sentencing hearing is still on
07/07/2022 = Sentencing Hearing
Session: 07/07/2022 10:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

Leftridge wants to exclude testimony and continue the trial; new dates:
06/28/2022 = Motion to Exclude

08/29/2022 = Pretrial Conference
Session: 08/29/2022 9:30 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

10/03/2022 = Jury Trial (03, 04, 05)
Comment: 2ND SETTING

Brooks-Brown the State filed an objection to something and the jury trial dates are the same
06/13/2022 = Memorandum/Brief Filed
BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF MOTION
Filed By: Brooks-Brown, Shianne

06/15/2022 = Notice of Transcript Filed

06/29/2022 = Objection Filed
states objection.pdf

11/14/2022 = Jury Trial (14, 15,16)

 

[FrostedGlass]

Dean's sentencing hearing was continued; new date:

08/03/2022 = Sentencing Hearing
Session: 05/26/2022 11:30 AM, Rescheduled
Session: 07/07/2022 10:00 AM, Rescheduled
Session: 08/03/2022 9:45 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Looks like Dean's case is done. No outcome noted yet.

08/03/2022 = Sentencing Hearing
Session: 05/26/2022 11:30 AM, Rescheduled
Session: 07/07/2022 10:00 AM, Rescheduled
Session: 08/03/2022 9:45 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.
Result: Concluded

 

[FrostedGlass]

08/04/2022	Order Issued Order on Sentencing entered, per form. Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Noticed: McLeland, Nicholas Charles Noticed: Manahan, Patrick Franklin Noticed: Carroll County Probation Department Order Signed: 08/03/2022
08/04/2022	Judgment Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. 01. 35-42-1-1(2): Murder • Finding of Guilty 02. 35-42-5-1(a)(1)/F2: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury - Injury to someone other than a def • Dismissed
08/04/2022	Abstract of Judgment Sent to DOC
08/04/2022	Sentenced Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. 1. 35-42-1-1(2): Murder Confinement to Commence: 08/04/2022 Indiana Department of Correction Term: 60 Yr Jail Credit: 544 Days

 

[FrostedGlass]

And now goes Tyrone...

09/26/2022

Plea Agreement Filed Filed By: Leftridge, Tyrone

10/13/2022	Sentencing Hearing Session: 10/13/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Result: Commenced and concluded
10/13/2022	Judgment Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. 01. 35-42-5-1(a)(1)/F2: Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury - Injury to someone other than a def • Dismissed with Prejudice 02. 35-42-2-1.5/F3:Aggravated Battery Use when the assault poses a substantial risk of death. • Dismissed with Prejudice 03. 35-42-1-1(2): Murder • Plea by Agreement
10/13/2022	Sentenced Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. 3. 35-42-1-1(2): Murder Confinement to Commence: 10/13/2022 Indiana Department of Correction Term: 45 Yr Jail Credit: 646 Days

 

[FrostedGlass]

The 3rd party in this case is running a bit behind.
Shianne Brooks-Brown #08C01-2106-MR-000001

11/01/2022	Order Issued Order Authorizing Funds for Psychological Evaluation entered, per form. Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Noticed: McLeland, Nicholas Charles Noticed: Fouts, Kurtis G. Order Signed: 11/01/2022
11/02/2022	Automated ENotice Issued to Parties Order Issued ---- 11/1/2022 : Nicholas Charles McLeland;Kurtis G. Fouts
11/14/2022	Jury Trial Session: 11/14/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Session: 11/15/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Session: 11/16/2022 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Dean's appeal was filed on 09/02/2022; it will be an interesting read.

22A-CR-02104

09/02/2022	Notice of Completion of Clerk's Record
09/06/2022	Notice of Appeal Received Filed By: Dean, Jennifer L. File Stamp: 09/02/2022
10/28/2022	Notice of Completion of Transcript Filed

 

[FrostedGlass]

Update for Brooks-Brown

11/07/2022	Motion for Continuance Filed MOTION TO CONTINUE Filed By: Brooks-Brown, Shianne
11/07/2022	Praecipe for Transcript Filed PRAECIPE FOR TRANSCRIPT Filed By: Brooks-Brown, Shianne
11/10/2022	Order Granting Motion for Continuance On motion of Defendant, trial by jury continued to Apr. 10, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. as a general 2nd setting, per form. Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Noticed: McLeland, Nicholas Charles Noticed: Fouts, Kurtis G.

04/10/2023

Jury Trial Session: 11/14/2022 9:00 AM, Rescheduled Session: 11/15/2022 9:00 AM, Cancelled Session: 11/16/2022 9:00 AM, Cancelled Session: 04/10/2023 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Session: 04/11/2023 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Session: 04/12/2023 9:00 AM, Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A.

 

[FrostedGlass]

I wondered what transcript Brooks-'Brown was wanting. Maybe this is it? That number is Tyrone Leftridge's case.
I'd like to see it, too. (Court date is still the same)

11/15/2022

Order Issued Order re: transcript in 08C01-2106-F2-5 entered, per form. Judicial Officer: Diener, Benjamin A. Noticed: McLeland, Nicholas Charles Noticed: Fouts, Kurtis G. Order Signed: 11/10/2022

 

[FrostedGlass]

The transcript needed for Dean's appeal is finished and her attorney has been given an extension of time to file the brief. Due date: Jan 30, 2023.

I wonder if the probable cause for her arrest is available to the public.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Dean has asked for another extension; new due date is March 1. Her attorney cites his his heavy court load along with the following reasons below. In this appeal, there is this:
Related: Change of Venue 08C01-2107-MR-000002 I wonder if it was approved and where it was tried. That might be why I can't find any info on it.

Jennifer L. Dean
08C01-2107-MR-000002
22A-CR-02104 (appeal)
[snip from appeal]
 That Counsel agreed to accept the instant appeal along with a felony appeal on Davidson vs. State 22A-CR-01788. At the time counsel accepted the appointments, undersigned counsel was unaware that this trial lasted eight days and was unaware that some statements played to the jury were not transcribed. Counsel is currently working through the sixth day of the transcript, and has spent the majority of the holiday break working on the appeal. It appears to counsel that the issue of sufficiency of the evidence should be raised, and the transcript cannot merely be skimmed. The appellant is serving a sixty year sentence for murder.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Jennifer Dean's brief is now available; I'll post on some of the issues a little later.

As I scanned through it, this quoted part jumped out at me. I've always heard a lot about credible witnesses and I was very naïve to think if a witness wasn't credible, the attys would not use them. I learned how gullible I was through following the Kim Dyer murder case as well as others.

A reviewing court does not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of a witness. See Jordan v. State, 656 N.E.2d 816, 817 (Ind.1995) It is also true that a conviction may be had on the uncorroborated testimony of a single witness. (See Ferrell v. State, 565 N.E.2d 1070, 1072-1073 (Ind.1991)