Police use license plate tracking system to gather evidence in southern Indiana murder

A Bloomington man shot in the head and left 20 feet off the side of a dead-end gravel road in Owen County likely died the day before someone passing by discovered his body.

Court documents filed after Thursday’s arrest of suspect Quentin Lamont Porter Jr. described blood and shards of broken glass on Stephenson Road near 23-year-old Malik Sims’ body. Blood also was found inside the victim’s car, which police say was stolen by his killer.

Sims was wearing red gym shorts, a white tank top and no shoes, a police affidavit said. He was laying on his side with a black plastic bag pulled over his head.

On Thursday, 10 days after Sims was found dead, police arrested 25-year-old Porter on charges of murder and auto theft. Owen County Sheriff Ryan White said the two men were acquainted but not good friends.

Police: Malik Sims' roommate tracks phone to rural county road

Sims’ roommate told police the last time he saw his friend he was on the porch of their apartment with Porter, known as “QP.”

Details about the investigation that led to Porter’s arrest are contained in a probable cause affidavit filed by Sgt. Nathan Martin, an Owen County Sheriff’s Office detective. He described how the roommate and another friend of Sims had arrived at the crime scene the afternoon of July 15, a few hours after police.

They had traced the victim’s phone to the remote site and said it had been at that location 20 hours.

Sims was last seen outside his West Alder Court apartment, with Porter, about 2 p.m. on July 14. About 11 that night, Porter’s family members said he arrived alone at his grandmother’s Indianapolis home driving Sims’ gray 2012 Audi A4, according to the police affidavit.

Police said on July 17, Porter identified himself as Sims and paid $400 to arrange for a transport service to tow the car from his grandmother’s house to a repair shop in Bloomington. Police got a search warrant for the car before it was towed and had it taken to an Indiana State Police garage.

Evidence technicians discovered “a large amount of blood” inside the vehicle, as well as bleach stains and spray paint on the upholstery. New covers had been put on the seats, “likely to conceal or cover the blood,” Martin wrote.

Blood also was found on the south edge and just off the north side of Stephenson Road, more than 10 feet away from the body, the report said. “There were also multiple glass fragments found within and near the blood in the roadway.”

An autopsy determined Sims died from a gunshot wound to his head. The entry wound was on the right side near his ear and there was an exit wound on the left side of his head, the affidavit said. No weapon was found.

Receipt helps police track Quentin Porter Jr.'s alleged actions after shooting

Inside the Audi was a July 15 receipt from an Indianapolis O’Reilly Auto Parts store that showed the purchase of seat covers and duct tape, both recovered from the car. Investigators watched surveillance video from the store and reported seeing Porter buy the items at 10:22 a.m. the day Sims’ body was found. Police say he paid with the same credit card used at the towing business.

On July 16, a man who identified himself as Sims rented a Gray Nissan Sentra from an Indianapolis rental firm. Two days later, Porter was back in Bloomington, where a Bloomington Police Department officer stopped the car for a traffic violation.

Investigators gathered information about the Audi and where it had been before and after Sims was killed. Using a video license plate tracking system called Flock Safety, police traced the car to West Third Street and South Muller Parkway at 5:41 p.m. July 14, the day Sims was last seen. About 45 minutes later, at 6:24 p.m., the car was at the intersection of Ind. 46 and Stinesville Road, a few miles west of Ellettsville, headed toward Owen County.

The next time the car is seen on the camera network was 10:43 that night at the intersection of South Harding Street and West Troy Avenue in Indianapolis, not far from Porter’s grandmother’s home. The probable cause affidavit was filed July 23 and a warrant was issued for Porter’s arrest. He was booked into the Owen County Jail at 2 a.m. July 25 and appeared in Owen Circuit Court that afternoon for an initial hearing. He is jailed with no bond.

Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Malik Sims' death: Quentin Porter Jr accused of Owen County murder