Indiana homeowner Curt Andersen was charged with voluntary manslaughter, accused of fatally shooting a housecleaner who mistakenly showed up at the wrong house. Andersen, 62, is charged in connection with the death of 32-year-old Guatemalan immigrant Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez. Rios was found dead on the front porch of a home in Whitestown, an Indianapolis suburb, on November 5. Authorities said she was part of a cleaning crew that went to the wrong house just before 7 a. m. Officials determined that she was shot in the head. Andersen told investigators that he and his wife were asleep upstairs when they heard a “commotion at the door,” according to a probable cause statement obtained by the Associated Press. He said he saw two people at the front door, then loaded his handgun and fired one shot toward the door. “Contrary to the contention of the prosecutor and without discussing the specific facts of the case we believe Mr. Andersen had every reason to believe his actions were absolutely necessary and fully justified at the time,” Andersen’s attorney, Guy Relford, said on X. Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood said he plans to prove that Andersen couldn’t have reasonably believed he needed to use deadly force, given what he knew at the time. Why It Matters The case centers around the interpretation of the state’s stand-your-ground law. Indiana is among 31 states with a stand-your-ground law that allows homeowners to use deadly force to stop someone they believe is trying to unlawfully enter their home. Police said there was no evidence Rios entered the home before she was shot. Relford said Andersen’s actions were justified under the law, while Eastwood said Andersen lacked the information to know if his actions were reasonable. What To Know Eastwood spoke out against what he called “false and misleading information” spreading since the shooting, including the claim the individual who shot Rios was a police officer. “This must stop immediately,” he said. “It does not help the process. It does not help this case. It undermines the integrity of the judicial process. It spreads confusion and it harms both the victim’s family and the accused’s right to a fair trial.” Andersen has no connection to law enforcement, Eastwood said. The suspect told investigators that when he saw the people at his door, he said to himself, “What am I going to do? It’s not going away and I have to do something now.” He said the people were “thrusting” at the door and getting more aggressive, according to his police statement. Andersen also said that he did not announce himself or say anything before firing his gun and that the door never opened. Investigators found a bullet hole in the door, but no evidence of any forceful contact on the door, latch or door frame. Does Stand-Your-Ground Law Apply? Eastwood argued that stand-your-ground protections don’t apply because Andersen lacked enough information to know if his action was defensible. Relford argued that Andersen’s actions were justified under the “castle doctrine” provision of the law, which says a person can use reasonable force, even deadly force, if they rationally believe that it is necessary to prevent unlawful entry. “The law does not allow a criminal conviction based on hindsight. Instead, Mr. Andersen’s actions must be evaluated based on the circumstances as he perceived them. For all these reasons, the castle doctrine clearly applies and I look forward to defending Mr. Andersen in court,” Relford wrote. What People Are Saying Eastwood, at a news conference: “This case is not about undermining the law it is about applying the law to the facts of this case.” Relford, on X: “The death of Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez is a terrible tragedy that is heartbreaking for everyone involved. And while we are disappointed that the Boone County Prosecutor’s Office has elected to file criminal charges against Mr. Curt Andersen, I look forward to proving in court that his actions were fully justified by the ‘castle doctrine’ provision of Indiana’s self-defense law.” What Happens Next Andersen’s initial court hearing is expected this week, FOX 59 News reported.
https://www.newsweek.com/who-is-curt-andersen-man-accused-of-killing-cleaner-who-went-to-wrong-home-11062458
Who Is Curt Andersen? Man Accused of Killing Cleaner Who Went to Wrong Home
