Here's where each of the 24 homicide cases in Evansville in 2022 stands as new year begins

EVANSVILLE — 2022 proved to be one of Evansville's deadliest years in recent memory, with homicides claiming the lives of victims ranging in age from just a few days old to more than 80 years.

According to police records and a count by the Courier & Press, 24 people died by homicide in Evansville this year, surpassing last year's total of 21 killings.

The majority of the 24 killed in 2022 died due to gunshot wounds, but stabbings, neglect, and a hit-and-run during an attempted car jacking claimed lives, too. The year also saw two fatal officer-involved shootings, including one in December. And three of the deaths occurred on one day alone.

It all makes 2022 one of the deadliest years since at least the mid-1960s, according to police homicide records.

Evansville Police Department records list 19 homicide victims for 2022, leaving out the two police shootings and one case that occurred in the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office's jurisdiction.

Not all cases of homicide are murder – in at least one case from this year, police deemed a homicide justifiable and in self defense.

Under Indiana law, murder is defined as the intentional killing of another person, or the act of killing someone while committing another crime, including burglary, drug-dealing and others. Homicides, meanwhile, can include deaths from neglect or accidents.

Of cases investigated by the EPD, four remain open and unsolved, according to the department's internal list of homicide investigations.

Feb. 4: Phillip Dill dies in police shooting

According to 911 audio obtained by the Courier & Press, 34-year-old Phillip Dill called police dispatch Feb. 4 and told them he was "losing his mind" and preparing to shoot and kill his family.

"I have a gun and I'm going to kill everyone in the house," Dill told dispatchers.

Evansville police spokesman Sgt. Nick Winsett said officers shot and killed Dill after attempts to negotiate failed. According to Winsett, Dill was threatening the lives of a woman and multiple children.

Feb. 6: Evansville teenager shot to death on porch of Madison Avenue home

An 18-year-old Evansville man died after he was shot in the 300 block of Madison Avenue. According to an EPD news release, officers found the victim on a porch suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

EPD spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Gray told the Courier & Press Thursday the case is still active. No suspects have been arrested.

March 24: David Anthony Macke and Kara Frederick shot to death

The Evansville Police Department said 68-year-old David Anthony Macke and 31-year-old Kara Frederick were shot to death on March 24 inside a West Side residence. The alleged shooter, 30-year-old Samuel Aaron Robb, led Indiana State Police on a car chase into Harrison County, Indiana, following the incident.

ISP spokesman Sgt. Carey Huls said authorities believe Robb shot himself at some point during the chase.

"Nobody witnessed anything happening as far as a gunshot," Huls said. "But evidence showed that’s most likely what happened.”

Robb's death isn't included in the Courier & Press' homicide count since it occurred in another county.

March 30: Candilyn Michelle Sexton and her unborn child killed by ex-partner

Scott L. Terry Jr., 30, reportedly confessed to shooting and killing his ex-partner, Candilyn Michelle Sexton, in March. Sexton was in her third trimester of pregnancy at the time, leading prosecutors to charge Terry with two counts of murder.

The Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office said Sexton died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

According to court records, a jury trial in Terry's case is scheduled to begin Feb. 27.

April 3: 33-year-old Megan Schaefer killed following attempted car theft

Mateo Rodriguez, 16, was charged with murder, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, auto theft, leaving the scene of a fatal crash and operating a vehicle without a license following a reported attempted car jacking and fatal hit-and-run that led to the death of Megan Schaefer, 33, in April.

According to court records, Rodriguez's jury trial has been rescheduled twice, and is now set to begin May 3.

April 17: Vito Allen and Thomas James shot under unclear circumstances

EPD officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of West Mill Road around 9 p.m, according to police reports, and on scene they found 43-year-old Vito A. Allen and 50-year-old Thomas R. James deceased inside a North Park apartment.

Gray said detectives ultimately determined the two men shot each other, and the case is labeled "possible murder & self defense" in an EPD list of homicides it investigated this year.

June 1: 85-year-old Betty Ann Stevens allegedly killed by her grandson

John M. Stevens, 40, was arrested and charged with murdering his 85-year-old grandmother, Betty Ann Stevens. According to Gray, officers found Stevens "beyond help" in the backyard of her East Michigan Street residence.

In addition to the murder charge, John Stevens faces two counts of battery by bodily waste against a public safety official, a Level 6 felony, and eight counts of intimidation, also a Level 6 felony. A jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2023.

June 5-6: Javion Presley-McNary shot to death

Officers responded to the 800 block of Line Street around midnight between June 5 and 6 and found Javion Presley-McNary suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest, Evansville police said.

Presley-McNary was just 17 years old. As of December, the EPD said the case remains open, and no arrests have been made.

June 8: Wade Wilson, a 12-day-old baby, dies due to alleged neglect

Following the death of an Evansville infant, police arrested the child's parents and charged them with neglect of a dependent resulting in death.

The parents, Taylor Smith, 26, and Timothy Wilson, 47, are charged with neglect of a dependent causing death, reckless homicide, maintaining a common nuisance and drug possession charges. The mother reportedly told police she fell asleep and woke up with the child underneath her.

Wade Wilson was born on May 27, according to records obtained by the Courier & Press.

Court records list Smith's trial data as Jan. 9. Timothy Wilson's trial is scheduled to begin May 8.

July 27: James Christopher McClernon shot and killed in Evansville trailer park

Vanderburgh County Sheriff's deputies arrested 34-year-old Ricky Allen Kiper Jr. following a shooting in the 5900 block of Maggie Valley Drive, which is located in a Northwest Side trailer park.

According to a sworn affidavit of probable cause, Kiper Jr. told detectives he shot the victim, 41-year-old James Christoper McClernon, because McClernon was a sex offender.

Kiper Jr. faces one count of murder, a Level 1 felony, and is set to appear in court for a review hearing on September 13.

Aug. 3: Nicholas Fenwick and Brett Coulson killed in double shooting

One man shot and killed another man outside an Evansville convenience store, only then to be shot and killed himself by an armed bystander, city police say. Police said they believe the bystander acted lawfully and in self defense.

Vanderburgh County Deputy Coroner David Anson identified the deceased men as Nicholas Fenwick, 28, and 33-year-old Brett Coulson. Police haven't said which man was reportedly the initial shooter, and the bystander hasn't been publicly identified.

In October, a spokeswoman for the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office told the Courier & Press the incident had been deemed "non-criminal."

Aug. 9: Tel’Majae Caimron McGee, 19, fatally shot

Nineteen-year-old Tel'Majae Caimron McGee was shot and killed in the 600 block of Jefferson Avenue in Evansville, according to the Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office and city police.

Gray said a shots-fired call and a report of a person down came in around 2:45 a.m. When police arrived on scene, they found McGee in an alleyway with multiple gunshot wounds and attempted life-saving measures. McGee was pronounced dead a short time later, Gray said.

The case remains open and unsolved as of December, according to Gray.

Aug. 9: Ronald Eugene Eastwood Jr. shot and killed

EPD says it is still investigating the shooting that killed 35-year-old Ronald Eugene Eastwood Jr. Police said he was gunned down in the 1000 block of East Mulberry Street around 2:45 a.m: the same time and day as McGee's killilng.

In a news release, police said there are potentially two suspects in the investigation, and that at least one of them was allegedly wearing all-black clothing and a ski mask. Neither suspect had been apprehended as of December.

Aug. 9: Missing person found deceased, wrapped in a tarp; police make arrest

Fifty-seven-year-old Patrick White, who had been missing since July 7, was found dead and wrapped in a tarp inside a home in the 1800 block of South Linwood Avenue on August 9.

According to an EPD news release, a tip prompted police to search the home. The coroner's office later confirmed the deceased man was indeed White and ruled that he was shot to death.

EPD detectives and SWAT subsequently served a search warrant that resulted in the arrest of 33-year-old Michael L. Thomas, who was then booked into the Vanderburgh County jail and charged with murder.

According to court records, Thomas' trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 21.

Aug. 28: Trey Lashaune McGillicuddy shot to death

In September, prosecutors accused 34-year-old Brandon Artis of killing 27-year-old Trey Lashaune McGillicuddy, who was found shot to death on Aug. 27 following a violent robbery.

Artis was first arrested Sept. 7 on drugs and weapons charges, but he now faces seven new counts, including murder, for allegedly killing McGillicuddy.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, EPD detectives said cellphone data connected Artis to McGillicuddy's killing, which they said occurred during a drug-related robbery that endangered the lives of children and an eyewitness.

Artis' jury trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 13, according to court records.

Oct. 7: Jermon Weathers fatally stabbed

According to Gray, 42-year-old Jermon Weathers was fatally stabbed in the 1200 block of Park Street just after 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7. Park Street is located about 10 blocks northeast of Franklin Street.

When officers arrived on scene, Gray said they located Weathers inside a residence with a stab wound to the chest.

Three days later, police arrested 26-year-old Zachary Lee Page, who would go on to be charged with murdering Weathers. Police said Page admitted to the stabbing but claimed it was in self-defense.

According to court records, Page's jury trial is scheduled to begin March 13.

Oct. 8: Zachary Parksey fatally stabs Colin McHargue inside Mo's House bar

According to police records, 29-year-old Zachary Parksey and 30-year-old Colin McHargue appeared to be "really good friends." But on Oct. 8, Parksey allegedly stabbed McHargue to death inside the bathroom of Mo's House bar, which is located in the 1100 block of Parrett Street.

According to a sworn affidavit, an employee at Mo’s House told police the men came together to the bar in the 1100 block of Parrett Street and opened a tab. She said they were friendly with one another.

They eventually went to the men’s room. According to a witness who was inside the room at the time, that’s when they began “shoving each other and arguing,” the affidavit states.

An employee in the women’s restroom at the time of the fight told police she overheard someone scream “oh my God, oh my God” through the rooms’ shared wall. She ran out and, through the open men's room door, saw McHargue lying on the floor.

Parksey allegedly told an employee he stabbed McHargue in self defense. Police later wrote they found no signs of injury on Parksey.

According to court records, Parksey is charged with felony murder and a trial date is set for April 10.

Dec. 4: Gamia L. Stuart shot and killed at Clayton Avenue apartment

According to a probable cause affidavit, 44-year-old Clifton Bryant Fletcher Sr. allegedly shot and killed 37-year-old Gamia Lechelle Stuart in the 1600 block of Clayton Avenue Dec. 4.

Police responded to the scene after dispatch received several 911 calls for a person shot outside a home on Clayton Avenue. When officers arrived, they found Stuart lying on a concrete pad between two apartments. She had been shot several times and was declared dead at the scene.

Witnesses and other evidence linked Fletcher to the crime early in the investigation, Gray said. Detectives learned Fletcher had "left the jurisdiction," but police set up a roadblock and stopped him when he reentered Evansville.

He was arrested without incident and booked into the Vanderburgh County jail just after 11 p.m. Dec. 4.

Fletcher is currently charged with one count of felony murder, according to court records. A review hearing in his case is scheduled for Jan. 19.

Dec. 12: Kentar R. Collins allegedly shoots, kills Jaylen Alexander Curlee

The EPD said Kentar R. Collins, 23, turned himself in after detectives accused him of fatally shooting 25-year-old Jaylen Alexander Curlee in the 1500 block of Judson Street just after 4 a.m. on Dec. 12.

According to a probable-cause affidavit, Collins allegedly opened fire on Curlee from his vehicle.

EPD officers arrived shortly after the shooting and found Curlee lying in the street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, a police incident report states. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful and Curlee was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Dec. 19, Collins filed a notice in Vanderburgh County Circuit Court stating his intent to argue he acted in self defense, according to court records. The court scheduled an early trial to begin Feb. 8, 2023.

Dec. 16: EPD officer fatally shoots man amid mental health 'episode'

Evansville police shot and killed 47-year-old Mauricio Cisneros, who they believed to be suffering from a mental health disorder, Dec. 16 in the 1300 block of North Third Avenue.

The incident began when Cisneros called 911. In the call obtained by the Courier & Press, dispatchers struggle to understand Cisneros, who speaks mostly in Spanish. At one point, the dispatcher believed he cryptically said "they are killing people."

More:Officer who shot, killed Mauricio Cisneros was trained in crisis intervention

In body camera footage released by the EPD, officers are seen struggling to communicate with Cisneros as well. The first responding officer asks Cisneros to put a knife down multiple times. While Cisneros' voice is calm, he repeatedly claims people are trying to kill him.

"He’s talking about people who aren’t here. I think he might be schizophrenic, having some kind of episode," the first officer says when another officer arrives about five minutes into the first video.

More:Police identify officer who shot, killed Evansville man

The EPD said officer Kyle Campbell shot and killed Cisneros after he "lunged" at officers with a knife. Campbell, and the other officers on scene, had received more than 40 hours of crisis intervention training, according to the department.

Campbell has been placed on pending further investigation. That is standard EPD practice after a police shooting.

Houston Harwood can be contacted at walter.harwood@courierpress.com with story ideas and questions. Twitter: @houston_whh

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville homicides: 2022 was one of the city's deadliest years ever