Whitestown, IN – A Boone County homeowner has been charged in the deadly shooting of a woman who mistakenly arrived at the wrong address for a cleaning job, a case prosecutors call deeply tragic and outside the bounds of Indiana’s self-defense law.
Authorities announced that Curt Andersen, the homeowner, is formally charged with felony voluntary manslaughter in the killing of 32-year-old Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez, who was shot through Andersen’s front door on the morning of November 5. Prosecutors say the facts uncovered so far do not support Andersen’s attempts to invoke Indiana’s stand-your-ground protections.
Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood said his office spent days reviewing evidence before filing charges, noting that emotions could not drive the legal process.
“We cannot allow emotion to guide our decisions. Our duty is to examine the facts, apply the law fairly and equally, and ensure that justice is served without bias and influence.”
Charges Filed After Review of Evidence
Under Indiana law, voluntary manslaughter applies when someone knowingly or intentionally kills another person while acting under “sudden heat,” which can reduce what would otherwise be a murder charge. Prosecutors determined that this standard fit the incident based on the available evidence.
Investigators say Perez and her husband mistakenly arrived at Andersen’s home in the 4200 block of Maize Lane in the Heritage subdivision, about 18 miles northwest of Indianapolis. The couple was scheduled to clean a home but did not realise they were at the wrong address.
What Police Found at the Scene
According to Whitestown Metropolitan Police, officers responded around 6:50 a.m. to a 911 call reporting a possible break-in. When officers arrived, they found Perez lying on the porch with a gunshot wound to the head as her husband held her.
“Officers acted quickly to secure the home, and get the female moved to a safe location to attempt lifesaving measures, but it was discovered she was already deceased upon the officers’ arrival,”
the department said.
Police later confirmed the couple never attempted to enter the home. A single bullet hole was found in the door, and Andersen admitted he fired from the top of his staircase without announcing himself.
Husband Says the Couple Never Tried to Enter
Perez’s husband told local media that the tragedy unfolded in seconds. He said he initially thought they were at the correct home, but realised the mistake too late.
“They should’ve called the police first instead of just shooting out of nowhere like that,”
he said through an interpreter.
He said his wife stepped back after being struck, collapsing into his arms as “blood went everywhere.” The couple shared four children, the youngest only 11 months old.
Prosecutors Reject Stand-Your-Ground Justification
Although Andersen has invoked stand-your-ground, Boone County prosecutors say the evidence contradicts that defense. There was no attempt by the victims to break in, and Andersen reportedly did not issue a warning or investigate before firing.
“Our decision today in no way should be interpreted as a challenge to Indiana’s stand-your-ground law,”
Eastwood said,
“but the facts of this case do not meet the requirements for that defense.”
A law professor at Indiana University described the shooting as “exceptionally unusual,” adding that the circumstances appear far removed from typical self-defense cases.
The Legal Path Ahead
As the case proceeds, key questions remain about Andersen’s intent, the timeline of events, and how the state will argue “sudden heat” in court. Andersen’s first court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
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