There has been a plea of guilty from one of the men charged in murdering two mothers and their babies. Ronald L. Davis had pled guilty to robbery, but, denied he shot the four victims.
Here is an recap on the case known as the Hovey Street Murders: on Jan. 14, 2008, two Indianapolis mothers and their young children were shot to death as they cowered behind a bed at 3283 Hovey Street.
Gina Hunt and Andrea Yarrell, both 24 when they were killed, had been close friends since grade school. Both had young children. Hunt had three children, including 23-month-old Jordan. Yarrell’s daughter, Charlii, was four months old. The two children were fatally shot also as their mothers tried to protect them.
Davis has pled guilty and will turn state’s evidence against the other men who were with him that day, and he has been able to avoid the death penalty; but, as it stands, he can still receive 280 years in prison since he was at the house during the time of the brutal murders, and that makes him an accessory after the fact. and under Indiana state law he will face the penalties that are meted out by that state’s statutes.
As the verdicts on this case come in, I will post them.
*******************************************************************
Man Gets 70-Year Sentence in Killings of 2 Women, 2 Children
Jasper Frazier, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery and carrying a handgun without a license.
Frazier suffers from schizophrenia and was previously convicted of seven prior felonies, but he provided the information that allowed police to solve the case. Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi agreed not to charge him with murder in exchange for his testimony.
“Without Jasper Frazier coming forward, the case might never have been brought, not when it was anyway,” said Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson.
Andrea Yarrell and Gina Hunt, both 24, and their children, Charlii Yarrell, 5 months, and Jordan Hunt, 23 months, were killed Jan. 14, 2008, on Hovey Street.
The triggerman, Ronald Davis, 33, was previously sentenced to 245 years in prison. Frazier said Davis became angry when he was told there was no marijuana in the home that the suspects planned to rob.
“Ronald Davis snapped and shot the baby in the face,” Frazier testified. “I did not shoot or participate in any shooting.”
Family members reacted to the testimony.
“That’s a hard answer, to know your loved one was holding her baby in her arms and somebody could be so heartless as to shoot them like that,” said Rhonda Stewart, Gina Hunt’s aunt.
Zarumin Coleman, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and being a violent felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced Friday to 60 years in prison.
Donte Hobson, 32, also took a plea deal and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Tommy Warren, 27, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and two years in community corrections. He also has two years probation from a previous burglary case.
The sentences aren’t enough for families that are still grieving.
“We are going to continue to miss them and hurt and be deprived of joy and more memories that could be made,” said Lisa Yarrell, Andrea’s cousin. “They got what they got, and we just have to be grateful for that.”
Security was extremely tight for Frazier’s sentencing. Attendees were searched for weapons before entering the courtroom, and extra deputies were assigned to the court, 6News’ Derrik Thomasreported.
The judge recommended that Frazier serve his sentence out of state so his co-defendants can’t seek revenge against him. Frazier said he will appeal the sentence.
- December 17, 2010: Men Sentenced To 60, 35 Years In Hovey Street Killings
- December 1, 2010: 2nd Man Sentenced In Hovey Street Slayings
- November 10, 2010: Man Gets 245-Year Sentence In Hovey Street Killings
- November 9, 2010: 4th Man Accepts Plea Deal In Hovey Street Killings
- September 17, 2010: Man Pleads Guilty In Hovey Street Slayings
**************************************************************
Men Sentenced to 60, 35 Years in Hovey Street Killings
Zarumin Coleman, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and being a violent felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Donte Hobson, 32, also took a plea and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
The men helped plan a robbery, along with Ronald Davis, 33; Jasper Frazier, 39; and Tommy Warren, 27, at a house in the 3200 block of Hovey Street in 2008, seeking marijuana and money that wasn’t there.
Andrea Yarrell and Gina Hunt, both 24, and their children, Charlii Yarrell, 5 months, and Jordan Hunt, 23 months, were killed.
Hobson’s fingerprints were found on one of the guns that was recovered after the slayings, but police said he did not go inside the house or fire the weapon.
Coleman drove the getaway car and picked up the gun used in the slayings, police said.
In court he apologized for his role in the crime, but he told 6News’ Derrik Thomasthat 60 years was more than he deserved.
“I should have gotten 20 years … because I didn’t kill no kids. I didn’t kill nobody,” he said. “I didn’t know nobody was going to get killed.”
Davis, who prosecutors claimed was one of two shooters, was sentenced to 245 years in prison. As part of a plea agreement reached with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, the death penalty was not an option.
Warren was sentenced to 10 years in prison and two years in community corrections. He also has two years probation from a previous burglary case.
Frazier, the other suspected gunman, has also accepted a plea deal. His sentencing is set for Monday.
- November 10, 2010: Man Gets 245-Year Sentence In Hovey Street Killings
*****************************************************************
Updated: Wednesday, 01 Dec 2010, 3:56 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 01 Dec 2010, 9:17 AM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – One of five suspects connected to the January 2008 Hovey Street murders will serve 10 years behind bars, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Tommy C. Warren pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery, a Class B felony. A judge sentenced him Wednesday to 12 years, of which he’ll spend two on work release.
Ronald Davis was sentenced on Nov. 10 to 245 years for admitting to murdering the two women and their babies on .Hovey Street in early 2008. Davis had pleaded guilty in September to four counts of murder.
*************************************************************
Davis Sentenced to 245 Years in Hovey Street Murders
Updated:Nov 11, 2010 7:53 AM CST
Davis is convicted in the murders of Gina Hunt and Andrea Yarrell along with their children. The victims were shot to death in their home on Hovey Street in 2008.
Davis pleaded guilty to the charges but says he did not pull the trigger.
****************************************************************************
Indy man pleads guilty in murder of 4 in Hovey Street case
Written by
Bill McCleery
Stuffed animals sit outside the Hovey Street home where four people were killed Jan. 15, 2008. / 2008 Star file photo
In custody: Ronald Davis, 30, is shown Jan. 23, 2008, walking to a court hearing inside the Indianapolis City-County Building. / 2008 Star file photo
Related Links
Though adamantly denying he was the shooter, Ronald L. Davis, 33, admitted he was at the house attempting to rob it when two mothers and two children were shot to death – which is all that is needed under Indiana law for a conviction of felony murder.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against Davis.
Gina Hunt, 24; her son Jordan Hunt, 23 months; Andrea Yarrell, 24; and her daughter, Charlii Daye-Yarrell, 5 months, were killed in a bedroom of a home in the 3200 block of Hovey Street on Jan. 14, 2008.
Davis could be sentenced Oct. 14 to up to 280 years in prison.
Earlier, one relative of the victims said he was relieved to hear the case might be coming to an end.
“I’m glad justice is finally getting ready to be served,” said Lesley Yarrell, 49. “I can’t get my daughter and granddaughter back, but I will be there when he goes to court and gets his time because I have things to say to him.”
Prosecutors have described the killings as a botched robbery. Davis and co-defendant Jasper Frazier were accused of breaking into the house in the 3200 block of Hovey Street, seeking marijuana and money, while two other men waited in an sport utility vehicle.
Frazier, who has a history of mental health problems, is a key prosecution witness who says he watched Davis gun down the victims.
Davis claims he was not the shooter. Prosecutors have acknowledged that no physical or forensic evidence directly implicates Davis.
Vic Ryckaert and Jon Murray contributed to this story.
Call Star reporter Bill McCleery at (317) 444-6083
**************************************************************
The following are more updates on the case. As the rest of the accused men go to trial, I will post more recent updates on this case.
-
The Hovey Street murders
… young children were shot to death by as they cowered behind a bed at 3283 Hovey Street. Gina Hunt and Andrea Yarrell, both 24 when they were killed, had been …
- Indy man pleads guilty in murder of 4 in Hovey Street case
Sep 17, 2010 | By Bill McCleery bill.mccleery@indystar.com … An Indianapolis man today pleaded guilty to the murder of four people in the Hovey Street slayings in January of 2008. Though adamantly denying he was the shooter, Ronald L …
- Suspect may plead guilty today in Hovey Street killings
Sep 17, 2010 | By Vic Ryckaert and Jon Murray vic.ryckaert@indystar.com … The man accused of the Hovey Street slayings of two mothers and two children is expected to avoid the death penalty by …
-
More plea deals possible in Hovey Street slayings
Sep 18, 2010 | By Bill McCleery bill.mccleery@indystar.com … The certainty of a conviction in the Hovey Street slayings was more important than seeking the death penalty for Ronald L. Davis, said Marion …
- Bisard’s ties to Hovey St. killings may cloud trial
Sep 3, 2010 | By Jon Murray jon.murray@indystar.com … is little potential the Bisard connection will harm the state’s case in the Hovey Street capital murder trial, set for Oct. 18. “This is a minor speed …
-
Judge denies request to delay murder trial
Aug 31, 2010 | … judge on Monday rejected a defense request to delay an Indianapolis man’s capital murder trial until early next year in the Hovey Street slayings. Ronald L. Davis, 33 …
-
Fact file Hovey Street slayings
Sep 17, 2010 |
-
Officer Bisard’s role questioned in Hovey St. slayings case
Sep 2, 2010 | … 3:42 p.m. A defense motion filed today in the Hovey Street slayings capital murder case intersects with another high-profile crime. The defense lawyers are …
- Three charged with murder in birthday party slayings
Aug 20, 2010 | By Jon Murray … the backyard party when the shooting started. Each defendant is charged with two counts of murder; single counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated battery; and three …
-
3 linked to deadly 32nd Street shootings
Aug 17, 2010 | By John Tuohy john.tuohy@indystar.com … charges related to the shootings: >> Damion Martin, 30, was preliminary charged with conspiracy to commit murder. >> Antwan Williams, 21, was preliminary charged attempt murder and aggravated battery. >> Devin Staten, 27 …
-
Murder charges filed against 3 in gunfight birthday party
Aug 21, 2010 | By Jon Murray jon.murray@indystar.com … for initial hearings. Each faces the same charges: two counts of murder; single counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated battery; and three counts of battery. The …