Indiana – An Indiana man was sentenced to a total of seventy years in prison for the murder of his famiIy member, 45-year-old S. Hunt. The sentence includes an additional ten years due to a firearm enhancement. The Prosecutor’s Office announced the conviction in July, and the sentencing took place earlier this week.
The investigation into the victim’s death began after her body was discovered in an abandoned home in Indiana. Authorities identified the victim and Indiana authorities determined that she had been fatally shot. The investigation led to the arrest of her so n, 30-year-old J. WeIIs, who was found in Illinois, and extradited back to Indiana to face charges.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered a notebook belonging to the defendant. The contents of the notebook provided critical evidence linking him to the crime. The details within the notebook, along with other evidence, contributed to the charges against him
The investigation process began in July 2023 after a man who had previously lived in a house decided to take a walk and visit his former home. When he arrived, he noticed a strong, unpleasant odor coming from the back of the property. He opened a window at the rear of the house and went inside. As he walked through the home, he saw the deceased lying on a mattress and covered in maggots
When officers arrived, they determined that the victim had been decomposing for some time. Investigators later learned that the woman was homeless but often squatted temporarily in abandoned properties. Police also learned that one of the defendant’s former girlfriends ended their relationship because of a troubling situation between him and his mother. A friend of the victim said the last time she spoke with the woman was on the day of her death, following an argument between the mother and her son. The victim had told her friend that she would be fine and would call later, but she never made that call.
When Illinois authorities took the defendant into custody, they found a note in a small, blue notebook at the residence where he was staying. The note described an action he had taken on a Saturday that resulted in the loss of a parent and would leave his sister devastated and disgusted. The note included the first name of his sister and referenced the date, which was a Saturday. Handwriting analysis confirmed that the writing in the notebook matched the defendant’s handwriting.
The trial of the defendant concluded with a unanimous guilty verdict. This followed a previous mistrial declared in February 2025 due to a deadlocked jury. The second trial, held in July 2025, resulted in the conviction for murder and a firearm enhancement. The sentencing hearing on September 16, 2025, included a victim impact statement from a family member, reflecting the profound impact of the crime on Hunt’s loved ones.
