GUILTY IN - Newton County, Fem, 30 Mar 2019 - Nicole Bowen

[MajorHoople]

Here is a lengthy article, with photos and video dated Jan 12, 2021, on the court proceedings:

Garett Kirts sentenced to 55 years for Nicole Bowen's murder

"A second person arrested in connection to West Lafayette native Nicole Bowen's homicide has been sentenced. Garett Kirts will spend 55 years behind bars for his crime. He is the main killer in this homicide. The prosecution and the defense agreed upon the sentence length as part of his guilty plea agreement.

Christopher Mathis received his guilty plea agreement sentencing in September. Newton Superior Judge Daniel Molter sentenced him to 912 days of incarceration for one charge of assisting a criminal.

As we previously reported, Bowen was murdered on March 30th 2019. Court documents say Kirts strangled Bowen to death, bound her body with a blanket, tape and cords, and left her body in a storage shed in Kentland. A property owner found her body in the area of CR 1275 S., east of CR 600 W."

 

[Niner]

Friday, January 15th:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ 8:30am CT) – IN – *Christopher Channing Mathis (27/now 28) arrested & charged (9/25/20) with conspiracy to commit dealing in a substance (controlled substance) & dealing in a substance (represented to be a controlled substance (both Level 6 felonies).
*Amended charges (12/18/20) to 2 counts of dealing in a substance (controlled) & 1 count of trafficking with an inmate.
12/11/20 Update: Motion filed to amend charging info. Motion hearing on 12/18/20 @ 8:30am & dispositional hearing on 1/15/21.
12/18/20 Update: State's motion to amend charging info; charging info to include count 3: trafficking with an inmate, a level 5 felony. Order changing dispositional hearing to pretrial conference hearing on 1/15/21.
IN – Nicole Lynn Bowen (30) (missing 3/29/19, Jefferson Township, Newton County, found 3/30/19) Mathis was arrested (4/10/19) & charged (3/28/19) with felony count of assisting a criminal & obstruction of justice. Plead not guilty. $50K bond Surety only.
Trial was set to begin on 4/6/20 than moved to 4/29/20-was vacated due to coronavirus. 9/18/20: Plead guilty due to a plea agreement. Sentenced to 912 days, credit 912 jail days. For obstruction of justice-dismissed without prejudice. Will testify again Kirts in Ray Hanish murder.

 

[Niner]

@FrostedGlass - any updates on Mathis' court hearing?

I have AG next on 1/27 & TB on 2/8.

TIA!

 

[Tippy Lynn]

@FrostedGlass - any updates on Mathis' court hearing?

I have AG next on 1/27 & TB on 2/8.

TIA!

This is what's on the docket for Mathis.

State of Indiana v. Christopher C. Mathis
Case Number 56D01-2009-F6-000897
Court Newton Superior Court
Type F6 - Felony 6
Filed 09/25/2020
Status 09/25/2020 , Pending (active)

01/15/2021
Pretrial Conference
Session:
01/15/2021 8:30 AM, Judicial Officer: Molter, Daniel J

 

[Niner]

Thanks @Tippy Lynn - guess no update yet...

 

[FrostedGlass]

@FrostedGlass - any updates on Mathis' court hearing?

I have AG next on 1/27 & TB on 2/8.

TIA!

Nothing has changed for AG or TB. I wonder if they will bring a plea deal for Garth on the 27th.

 

[Spartygirl]

Here is a lengthy article, with photos and video dated Jan 12, 2021, on the court proceedings:

Garett Kirts sentenced to 55 years for Nicole Bowen's murder

"A second person arrested in connection to West Lafayette native Nicole Bowen's homicide has been sentenced. Garett Kirts will spend 55 years behind bars for his crime. He is the main killer in this homicide. The prosecution and the defense agreed upon the sentence length as part of his guilty plea agreement.

Christopher Mathis received his guilty plea agreement sentencing in September. Newton Superior Judge Daniel Molter sentenced him to 912 days of incarceration for one charge of assisting a criminal.

As we previously reported, Bowen was murdered on March 30th 2019. Court documents say Kirts strangled Bowen to death, bound her body with a blanket, tape and cords, and left her body in a storage shed in Kentland. A property owner found her body in the area of CR 1275 S., east of CR 600 W."

I am curious why AG and others are not implicated, but perhaps we will know later.

 

[Seattle1]

I am curious why AG and others are not implicated, but perhaps we will know later.

Kirts and Garth are just two of the five suspects that were charged in the case of the death of Bowen.

^^sbbm

I'm not sure I understand your question but there were a total of 5 individuals charged with their part in the death of Nicole. All have been sentenced except for AB who pled not guilty but a plea bargain is said to be in the works. TB is the only defendant that requested a jury trial so her case is still active.

 

[Niner]

Hey @FrostedGlass - any new hearings for Mathis? The case # is 56D01-2009-F6-000897

TIA!

 

[Seattle1]

Hey @FrostedGlass - any new hearings for Mathis? The case # is 56D01-2009-F6-000897

TIA!

Mathis is being prosecuted for his controlled substance charges from Sept 2020,
correct? I don't get it -- he was already finished with his punishment and just couldn't stay away. This crowd are habitual offenders...

 

[Niner]

Mathis is being prosecuted for his controlled substance charges from Sept 2020,
correct? I don't get it -- he was already finished with his punishment and just couldn't stay away. This crowd are habitual offenders...

Yep - that is his latest charges... the whole group seems to be habitual offenders!!

 

[FrostedGlass]

01/15/2021 = Pretrial Conference
Session: 01/15/2021 8:30 AM, Judicial Officer: Molter, Daniel J
Result: Reset

01/20/2021 = Order on Hearing
Order Resetting PTC for 4/14/21 - Court Authorizes Deps to be Taken at County Expense
Judicial Officer: Molter, Daniel J
Order Signed: 01/15/2021

01/20/2021 = Clerk Administrative Event
Placed 1/15/21 Order in Sheriff's Inbox

01/20/2021 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Pretrial Conference scheduled for 04/14/2021 at 8:30 AM.

01/21/2021 = Automated ENotice Issued to Parties
Order on Hearing ---- 1/20/2021 : Brooke Loren Scheurich;Jeffrey Dale Drinski Hearing Scheduling Activity ---- 1/20/2021 : Brooke Loren Scheurich;Jeffrey Dale Drinski

04/14/2021 = Pretrial Conference
Session: 04/14/2021 8:30 AM, Judicial Officer: Molter, Daniel J

 

[Niner]

Thank you @FrostedGlass !

 

[FrostedGlass]

I wish Newton County had an inmate roster because I'm really curious as to who all was in there at the time Mathis was arrested for trafficking. We know Kirts was but I'm not sure if Beckley was.

Any opinions on what might have been the incentive for him to risk more jail time?

 

[Niner]

I wish Newton County had an inmate roster because I'm really curious as to who all was in there at the time Mathis was arrested for trafficking. We know Kirts was but I'm not sure if Beckley was.

Any opinions on what might have been the incentive for him to risk more jail time?

No incentive - just stupid?

 

[FrostedGlass]

So you think he was just doing someone a favor? I don't think that person would have been Kirts since he agreed to testify against him if there was a Hanish trial.

Maybe it wasn't anyone involved in this case? Maybe he was doing his co-conspirator a favor...helping them to get drugs to someone they were involved with?

 

[Seattle1]

I wish Newton County had an inmate roster because I'm really curious as to who all was in there at the time Mathis was arrested for trafficking. We know Kirts was but I'm not sure if Beckley was.

Any opinions on what might have been the incentive for him to risk more jail time?

I dunno but I've been troubled from the beginning here -- starting with the apparent behind-the-scenes happenings when one of the main killers, Garth, first walked out with a deal! I was overjoyed when she failed her sweet terms and back to face murder charges.

As for Mathis, his sentence of "time served" was much too easy. However, just like TB that is still holding out for a jury trial, I think these two must believe they are "safer" in jail. Either safer from an indictment or physically safe.

I think there must be a major distribution investigation going on in that county where authorities want the bigger fish.

MOO

 

[FrostedGlass]

The maximum sentence for an F6 in Indiana is 2 & 1/2 years (912 days), which is what the judge gave Mathis. He spent 492 days in jail and was given credit for 984 days toward his sentence.

I hope that if there is a distribution investigation going on, it extends to other counties, too. I wonder how hard LE is leaning on TB.

 

[Seattle1]

The maximum sentence for an F6 in Indiana is 2 & 1/2 years (912 days), which is what the judge gave Mathis. He spent 492 days in jail and was given credit for 984 days toward his sentence.

I hope that if there is a distribution investigation going on, it extends to other counties, too. I wonder how hard LE is leaning on TB.

Seems to me TB has never flinched -- she wants a jury trial-- or she's holding strong not to be released, yet.

I think these kids must be afraid of federal indictments. I also think the group-think was to kill NB over this fear. Otherwise, I don't understand how 4 others would participate if this was only about the death of Hanish.

MOO

.

 

[FrostedGlass]

There have been no changes for AG or TB; Mathis update:

01/15/2021 = Pretrial Conference
Session:01/15/2021 8:30 AM, Judicial Officer: Molter, Daniel J
Result: Reset

01/20/2021 = Order on Hearing
Order Resetting PTC for 4/14/21 - Court Authorizes Deps to be Taken at County Expense
Judicial Officer:Molter, Daniel J
Order Signed:01/15/2021

01/20/2021 = Clerk Administrative Event
Placed 1/15/21 Order in Sheriff's Inbox

01/20/2021 = Hearing Scheduling Activity
Pretrial Conference scheduled for 04/14/2021 at 8:30 AM.

01/21/2021 = Automated ENotice Issued to Parties
Order on Hearing ---- 1/20/2021 : Brooke Loren Scheurich;Jeffrey Dale Drinski Hearing Scheduling Activity ---- 1/20/2021 : Brooke Loren Scheurich;Jeffrey Dale Drinski

04/14/2021 = Pretrial Conference
Session: 04/14/2021 8:30 AM, Judicial Officer: Molter, Daniel J