Last two defendants in Amber Barrett's killing plead guilty

Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier
Updated ·2 min read

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Michael Penrod pleaded guilty Wednesday to the Sept. 28, 2020, robbery in which 28-year-old Amber Barrett was killed inside 904 Southlea Drive in Lafayette.

Penrod admitted to robbing Barrett. Emily Madison admitted last week to killing Barrett, and Joshua Branden White admitted in January to burglarizing Barrett's residence.

By 2 p.m. Wednesday, that left Joseph Adkins as the sole unconvicted defendant in Barrett's killing, and he pleaded guilty to burglary while armed with a deadly weapon and being a habitual offender during his change-of-plea hearing at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Adkins said they broke into the converted garage that was Barrett's apartment by removing a window air conditioner and climbing in the window.

For his role, Penrod's plea agreement indicates he will serve 30 years of a 33-year sentence at an Indiana prison. Three years of the sentence will be suspended, and Penrod will be on probation.

Sentence formally happens at 10 a.m. Sept. 28.

Adkins' plea agreement calls for him to be in prison for a 25-year sentence and on probation for three years. He currently is incarcerated at an Indiana prison on unrelated cases.

Joseph Adkins pleaded guilty Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, to burglary while armed with a deadly weapon and being a habitual offender in connection to the Sept. 28, 2020, killing of Amber Barrett in the 900 block of Southlea Drive in Lafayette.
Joseph Adkins pleaded guilty Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, to burglary while armed with a deadly weapon and being a habitual offender in connection to the Sept. 28, 2020, killing of Amber Barrett in the 900 block of Southlea Drive in Lafayette.

In Indiana, a felon must serve 75% of the sentence. This means that Penrod's prison sentence — in real time — is 22 1/2 years. His 30 months of pretrial detention means that his remaining sentence is about 20 more years of incarceration. Penrod, who is 41, will be 61 when he's released from prison.

Penrod also pleaded guilty to being a habitual offender for previous felony convictions in Grant and Tippecanoe counties.

Michael Penrod pleads guilty Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Tippecanoe Superior 2. Penrod admitted to robbing Amber Barrett on Sept. 28, 2020. Barrett was killed in the robbery inside her grandmother's house on Southlea Drive. Penrod also pleaded guilty to being an habitual offender.
Michael Penrod pleads guilty Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2023, in Tippecanoe Superior 2. Penrod admitted to robbing Amber Barrett on Sept. 28, 2020. Barrett was killed in the robbery inside her grandmother's house on Southlea Drive. Penrod also pleaded guilty to being an habitual offender.

Adkins, who is 35, will serve 75% of his 25-year sentence — or 18 3/4 years. He currently is serving an unrelated sentence until 2025. Adkins will be in his mid-50s by the time he's released from prison.

Madison, 34, will be sentenced Sept. 12, when she will be sent to prison for 45 years, according to her plea agreement. She'll 66 by the time she's released from prison. She will spend five additional years on probation after her release.

White's sentencing hearing does not yet appear on his court docket, according to online court records.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Last two defendants in Amber Barrett's killing plead guilty