Indiana Homeowner Charged After Cleaning Worker Fatally Shot at Wrong Address
Authorities in Lebanon have filed a voluntary manslaughter charge against a Whitestown homeowner accused in the death of a cleaning worker who mistakenly arrived at the wrong residence earlier this month. Prosecutors announced that Curt Andersen is facing the charge following the November 5 incident in the Heritage subdivision.
The victim, 32-year-old María Florinda Ríos Pérez De Velásquez of Indianapolis, was killed around 7 a.m. while she and her husband were attempting to access what they believed was a model home assigned to their cleaning crew. Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood expressed condolences to the family and emphasized the office’s responsibility to evaluate the evidence carefully and apply the law fairly.
According to Whitestown police, officers responded to a report of a possible burglary and found Pérez on the front porch along with her husband, Mauricio De Velásquez. Officials later determined that she had never entered the home and that the couple had mistakenly gone to the wrong address while attempting to unlock the door.
Her husband described the moment as devastating, recalling efforts to render aid after realizing the mistake. Pérez leaves behind four children, ranging in age from 17 years to 11 months.
Court documents outline what officers encountered upon arrival, including visible signs of injury on the porch and a single bullet hole in the front door. The coroner’s office ruled the manner of death as a homicide.
Prosecutors addressed Indiana’s Stand Your Ground law, noting that while the law protects a person’s right to self-defense, the circumstances of this case did not fall within those legal protections. Stand Your Ground allows individuals to use force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent serious harm or a forcible felony, provided they are in a place they are legally allowed to be and are not the initial aggressor.
Legal experts explained that while self-defense can apply in some situations, each case requires careful evaluation. Determining whether the use of force was reasonable depends on the specific circumstances and what the individual believed at the time.
The burden remains on the state to prove that Andersen did not act out of reasonable fear. Prosecutors noted that these determinations can be complex, but emphasized that their decision reflects a thorough review of the evidence.
Court proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks as the case moves forward.
