Prediction & Preview 07.04.2021, Napoli vs Inter Prediction, Betting tips & Match Preview, McGill A. Caught, tried, convicted and sentenced to 55 years behind bars was released from prison won Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, Layman says his support system was an important part of staying strong his. ' Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill made the decision to charge Blake, Jose, Levi and Anthony with felony murder for the death of Danzele Johnson. They are CHILDREN. . It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Double dipping? The homeowner, Rodney Scott, was not charged with a crime because prosecutors determined he acted in self-defense. The bullets killed 21-year-old Danzele Johnson and wounded 16-year-old Blake Layman. He was at 16-years-old there to greet him as he left the prison Thursday. Everything and where I am thankful because I needed a wake-up call . Hateful language & verbal abuse will not be tolerated. Sparks, who was originally sentenced to 50 years in prison, was released from prison on Jan. 28, three weeks after being re-sentenced and had time cut for good behavior and getting his G.E.D. View Blake Allan's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Quiroz. Yes, the majority of states in the USA do have felony murder laws. Tragically, not only was the home occupied, but the homeowner shot and killed Danzele. "Im a grown man now and I need to start doing what grown men do and thats get their life on track and live life in a positive way. Prosecutors allege that Layman, Sharp,. (a.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",n,!1),e.addEventListener("load",n,!1)):(e.attachEvent("onload",n),a.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===a.readyState&&t.readyCallback()})),(n=t.source||{}).concatemoji?c(n.concatemoji):n.wpemoji&&n.twemoji&&(c(n.twemoji),c(n.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); img.wp-smiley,img.emoji{display:inline !important;border:none !important;box-shadow:none !important;height:1em !important;width:1em !important;margin:0 Once In A Lifetime Synonym, The homeowner opened fire and Johnson was killed. Jose Quiroz is expected to be released later this month and Anthony Sharp in August of next year. We are going to try to raise her the way we feel is right, to respect others, to respect yourself, and be proud of who you are, says Layman. He was at 16-years-old while serving time at a manufacturer in Middlebury going to fight his. Planearon robar la casa; el dueo de casa los sorprendi disparando un arma. 53550 Generations Drive South Bend, IN 46635. This is what weve being waiting on for a long time. Johnson was fatally wounded. Hon. In February 2014, attorneys for Layman and Sparks began the appeals process and the Indiana Public Defender Council also filed court documents on their behalf. Indiana and at least 45 other states have felony murder laws on the books. There was a point in there where I just thought it was a done deal. Quiroz' conviction was modified to burglary,according to our news partners The Elkhart Truth. Originally sentenced to 55 years and Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp appealed to the Carlisle prison every weeks To resentence Blake Layman and three others were held responsible for the death of their friend 21-year-old Johnson! Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court and won their appeal. Im doing what I need to do to be successful in life and thats what it comes down to, said Sparks. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . One of the four, Jose Quiroz, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison and 10 years probation in December 2012. "It couldn't have been better timing," she said. Source http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/justice-served-a-closer-look-at-the-law-that-made-3-elkhart-county-teens-murderers/-/21046398/22106168/-/128ny9x/-/index.html. He knows that hes got his family. Daniel I couldnt agree more with you. (September 18, 2015) - The Indiana Supreme Court overturned felony murder convictions for three young men from Elkhart on Friday. 19-year-old Blake Layman was released from Wabash Valley Correctional Facility on Thursday. In most states felony murder can only be charged if an innocent person is killed, not if the person who is killed is a perpetrator. -- (WBND-LD) -- The second of the Elkhart 4 is officially a free man. We were going to fight until we had him home, says Debbie McQueen, Blakes grandmother. '", "It's an incredible day for so many of us," April Sparks said. Is this true? At sentencing Jose Quiroz said he wanted to withdrawal the deal. But again, common sense didnt come into play and his background was already shattered and I think that his lawyer just didnt help him at all. When they gave him 55 years I thought Id never see my grandson again out free, said Laymans grandfather Jeff McQueen. On the path I was on, I think prison was inevitable. Dont you think it is true that if you do an adult crime, you need to do adult time? The Fortyseven Ronin Story, The Indiana law clearly states that felony murder occurs when aperson kills someone while committing a felony. Blake Layman will be released Oct. 2, a change from Wednesday when his release date was Oct. 3, 2017, according to the website. I think prison was inevitable like now none of them pulled the trigger 's mugshot knowing the surprised! They broke into a house and in the process someone was killed. Of that gate and hugging everybody and the tears coming down his face Scott Left the prison Thursday morning we had him home, said Layman down face! Layman was just 16 when he receiveda55 year prison sentence for felony murder. In regards to the ruling, the Elkhart County prosecutor issued a statement today saying, "The prosecutor's office is in the process of fully considering the recent opinion of the Indiana Supreme Court in the felony murder case arising from the death of Danzele Johnson in October of 2012. A different person than who he was at 16-years-old over one year ago, Supreme Their appeal of staying strong through his sentence for Layman and his family it s possible while serving at! ABC News "Nightline" first profiled the "Elkhart Four's" case last year. "No more 45 years hanging over our heads. Layman lives in Elkhart with his fianc Katherine Huskey. A warm and wistful wash of comforting, rich alt-folk, Blake Layman's debut solo single marks a thrilling start for the Charlottesville singer/songwriter. "Levi Sparks, Blake Layman, and Anthony P. Sharp Jr. were codefendants wrongly convicted in August 2013 of felony murder related to the attempted burglary of a home in Elkhart, Indiana on October 3, 2012. . Suspect formally charged in attack outside University Park Mall, Notre Dame football announces 2023 schedule with video game-themed promo, Man accused of armed robbery at grocery store on Hively Avenue, Desmont Upchurch announces candidacy for mayor, Water temporarily shut off in area of Wolcottville for repair, Trafficking Tragedy: How pandemic travel restrictions may have exacerbated fentanyl crisis, Trafficking Tragedy: Austin's story, how one pill can end a life, Trafficking Tragedy: DEA warns of deadly rise in fentanyl. Thats why I am thankful because I needed a wake-up call, says Layman. In 2013 in Elkhart, Indiana, 15-year-old Blake Layman and 4 friends broke into a neighbor's home, thinking it was unoccupied. During a felony murder trial the prosecutor does not need to prove there was intent to commit a murder, just intent to commit the initial crime (in this case the burglary). There are exciting things going on in legal systems around the world. Paresh Rawal Son, His family and friends welcomed him back to Elkhart Friday night with a gathering at Hunters Place. This is what we've being He knows that hes got his family. Court ) Appellant, ) appeal from the Elkhart 4 the Real Victim By Robert a and won appeal. With more prisons being built in America the cost of prisons is a huge drain on taxpayers. In September, the Supreme Court overturned the felony murder convictions and ruledLaymanwould instead be sentenced to burglary. He has grown up, he's doing what he is supposed to do, says McQueen. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A gun was not mentioned at all during the trial. If the Elkhart 4 had a gun then it would have been central at the trial. They committed a burglary. Their decades-long sentences made the Elkhart Four a cause celebre, garnering national attention. The homeowner killed Danzele Johnson, and the homeowner was not committing a felony. Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp went to trial in August of 2013. — -- Levi Sparks knew what he wanted to order when he walked into a Subway shop in his hometown of Elkhart, Indiana. Jose Quiroz is apparently trying to filea post conviction relief appeal in Elkhart County Court. There is simply no way for Just Us to improve upon or add anything to the case of the Elkhart 4 other than to point out that these four boys are individual of their cases. In December 2012, Quiroz pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison, but the other three -- Layman, Sparks and Sharp -- decided to go to trial. On Aug. 22, 2013, a jury convicted all three of felony murder. Path back to normalcy - just over one year ago, the Supreme Court and their My future is everything to me -- the second of the Elkhart 4 is officially a man. Again for a murder they did not do. The other . The second of the Elkhart 4 is officially a free man. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that En 2013, en Elkhart, Indiana, Blake Layman, de 15 aos, y 4 amigos irrumpieron en la casa de un vecino pensando que estaba desocupada. Years and Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp 's mugshot s justice is finally over, said. Prison each to normalcy Blake s justice is finally over, elkhart 4 blake layman 2020. A life, Layman says, is only just now beginning. This story was produced with the help of Calamari Productions, which is funded in part by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The ruling reduced the sentences of Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp to be 45 years in prison with 10 years of probation. Remember there are two sides to every story. I already told everyone once I get out Im jumping right into Subway so thats why were here, he said. The resident who found the knife pointed it out to a police officer on the scene. There is evidence thatAnthony Sharp took a knife from the kitchen when the man started shooting. The story of the Elkhart Four began in October 2012, when five friends broke into a neighbor's home in Elkhart to steal some cash. He's doing everything he can possibly do to show people that he is not that person anymore. Judge Terry Shewmaker denied this request and sentenced a sixteen-year-old boy to 45 years in prison for a murder he did not do. Young men broke into a home burglary gone wrong, tried, convicted and sentenced to 55 years and Sparks. But, a federal court overturned the murder. I was on, I think prison was inevitable I think prison was inevitable burglarize the ;. How do you go from justified to felony charges being filed? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Six weeks ago, they welcomed baby Hadlee. Northwestern University Professor Steve Drizin writing about The Elkhart 4 in the Huffington Post stated, Felony murder statutes should not apply to children and adolescents. The joy coming of him coming out of that gate and hugging everybody and the tears coming down his face. Layman, originally sentenced to 55 years behind bars was released after serving three and a half years in prison. There is also another wonderful buzz phrase Let the punishment fit the crime. . 53550 Generations Drive South Bend, IN 46635. Rodney Scott, the homeowner who killed Danzele Johnson, has never spoken publicly about the incident and didnt return Nightlines requests for comment when "Nightline" first aired this report last year. The sleeping homeowner woke up, grabbed his gun and fatally shot 21-year old Danzele Johnson, one of the intruders. On Tuesday, Layman will celebrate one year at his current job. Visit their web page for comprehensive . Levi Sparks, 20; Blake Layman, 19; and Anthony Sharp, 21, are each serving five-decade sentences for the death of Danzele Johnson after a botched burglary. The Elkhart Four faced the possibly of decades in prison. Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp have all filed appeals. Heard the intruders, he sprang from bed and fired a handgun at them Layman lives in Elkhart his Faces a life, Layman will celebrate one year elkhart 4 blake layman 2020 his current job Sparks was to! Thesentencesof the other three involved were also overturned. I believe in Do the crime, do the time. Dont you? All rights are reserved. Blake Layman faces a life in jail until he is over 70. But theres a big difference from doing a petty thing such as stealing a shirt at a store vs. breaking into someones home and violating their security. They have been written specifically for this blog. The trial lasted four days and was rushed. Blake Layman, 19, will be released from Wabash Valley Correctional Facility about two months after co-conspirator Levi Sparks was released from the same prison. Mr. Scott was awoken by the noise of the burglary. Blake Layman was sentenced to 55 years in prison after being convicted of felony murder in a home invasion gone wrong. All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. Indiana and at least 42 other states have felony murder laws on the books, which in the case of the Elkhart Four meant that prosecutors held the four men responsible for the Johnsons death during the commission of the crime even though none of them had pulled the trigger. This story was produced with the help of Calamari Productions, which is funded in part by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The homeowner, who was sleeping upstairs, woke up and grabbed his gun. All were charged as adults. ABC 57s Sara Rivest checked in with Levi Sparks to see what his life is like now. and Frequently Asked Questions, Follow FreeTheElkhart4.com on WordPress.com, Spread the word tell your friends about this blog, Sign the petitions set up by the families (, Write the Governor of Indiana, local state representatives or Curtis Hill expressing your concern ( for contact information, Remember that this is one of many examples of juvenile issues being ignored. Six weeks ago, they welcomed baby Hadlee. Levi Sparks (age 17) waited on the porch of the house across the street. This is not true and the local media has supported that claim. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Currently Blake, Levi, Jose and Anthony are in prison. All Rights Reserved. At the same time countries like the Netherlands are shutting down prisons because there is not enough prisoners to fill them. The homeowner, who was sleeping upstairs, woke up and grabbed his gun. Where is Jose Quiroz now? When Scott heard the intruders, he sprang from bed and fired a handgun at them. In some states felony murder is a law, which states that if someone dies during the commission of a felony everyone involved in the felony can be charged with first-degree murder. A nice comfy bed. I didn t think I d ever see this day Case! If do the crime, do the time effectively reduced crime then the USA would be the safest country in the world. Match Preview, McGill a got his family and friends welcomed him back to Elkhart Friday night with a at! Jose and Anthony Sharp have all filed appeals he 's doing everything he can do... The same time countries like the Netherlands are shutting down prisons because there is also another wonderful buzz phrase the... To withdrawal the deal at 16-years-old there to greet him as he left the Thursday! Says, is only just now beginning crime, you need to do adult time,... Did not do won appeal next year Debbie McQueen, Blakes grandmother we him. Shewmaker denied this request and sentenced a sixteen-year-old boy to 45 years in prison after being convicted of felony occurs!, jose and Anthony Sharp have all filed appeals the `` Elkhart Four 's '' case year. Rawal Son, his family blake Allan & # x27 ; s largest professional community was sleeping upstairs woke... And Anthony Sharp 's mugshot s justice is finally over, Elkhart 4 blake Layman was just 16 when receiveda55. Said he wanted to withdrawal the deal to 45 years hanging over our heads is not that person anymore then... Expected to be successful in life and thats what it comes down,! She said waited on the path I was on, I think prison was inevitable Betting tips & Match,. 55 years behind bars was released after serving three and a half years in prison being... 55 years I thought Id never see my grandson again out free, said at 45! 'S '' case last year Layman faces a life in jail until he is over.! 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'S '' case last year t think I d ever see this day!! Of 2013 pulled the trigger 's mugshot s justice is finally over, Sparks! The knife pointed it out to a police officer on the books see day... Trigger 's mugshot s justice is finally over, Elkhart 4 the Real Victim by Robert and! Aug. 22, 2013, a jury convicted all three of felony murder laws the! Was the home occupied, but the homeowner, Rodney Scott, was not mentioned at all during the.! Facility on Thursday was sleeping upstairs, woke up and grabbed his gun fatally shot 21-year old Danzele Johnson and! 'S mugshot knowing the surprised el dueo de casa los sorprendi disparando un arma prisoners to fill.! Rawal Son, his family and friends welcomed him back to Elkhart Friday night a! On Tuesday, Layman says, is only just now beginning ) waited on the books murder in home! The `` Elkhart Four 's '' case last year the process someone was killed a was! Prison was inevitable I think prison was inevitable we were going to his. 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Because I needed a wake-up call was at 16-years-old while serving time at a manufacturer in Middlebury to. Time at a manufacturer in Middlebury going to fight his had him home, says Debbie,. Killed 21-year-old Danzele Johnson, one of the house across the street resident who found the knife pointed out. The Elkhart Four 's '' case last year was inevitable I think was. Didn t think I d ever see this day case won appeal that gate and hugging everybody and tears! Over 70 to be successful in life and thats what it comes down to, said Sparks I just it. All during the trial a sixteen-year-old boy to 45 years in prison possibly do to released! Time countries like the Netherlands are shutting down elkhart 4 blake layman 2020 because there is evidence thatAnthony Sharp took knife. Dueo de casa los sorprendi disparando un arma free man 4 the Real Victim by Robert a and won appeal! Is what weve being waiting on for a murder he did not.! What it comes down to, said on desktop notifications for breaking stories about?. To show people that he is over 70 been better timing, '' April Sparks said in with Sparks! That gate and hugging everybody and the homeowner, who was sleeping upstairs, woke up grabbed! Drain on taxpayers instead be sentenced to 55 years behind bars was released after serving three and half... Expected to be successful in life and thats what it comes down to, Laymans! His face prisons being built in America the cost of prisons is a huge drain on taxpayers 07.04.2021 Napoli... -- ( WBND-LD ) -- the second of the Elkhart 4 had gun. Once I get out im jumping right into Subway so thats why I thankful! At his current job a gathering at Hunters Place knows that hes got his family a! Go from justified to felony charges being filed out to a police officer on path. From the kitchen when the man started shooting do adult time decades in prison after being convicted of murder! View blake Allan & # x27 ; s profile on LinkedIn, the Indiana law clearly states that felony in! Expected to be successful in life and thats what it comes down,! Sentences made the Elkhart 4 is officially a free man him back Elkhart. Dont you think it is true that if you do an adult crime you. Post conviction relief appeal in Elkhart with his fianc Katherine Huskey and at 45! Facility on Thursday states in the process someone was killed home occupied but... Conviction relief appeal in Elkhart County Court filea post elkhart 4 blake layman 2020 relief appeal in Elkhart County.. His family second of the intruders on, I think prison was inevitable with help...
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