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Deadly altercation in October leads to charges
UPDATED 11-23-22 - The Clay County Prosecutor’s Office has charged a man with Attempted Murder after a deadly altercation in October.
Jerick Dee Hayden, 23, Clay City, is charged with one count of level 1 felony Attempted Murder and one count of class A misdemeanor Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Domestic Batterer.
(NOTE: The Brazil Times is not releasing full details at this time to protect the integrity of formal court proceedings.)
According to a probable cause affidavit, this incident started on October 1st around 2 a.m. Clay County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched per a 911 call to find Leah Butters, 55, lying in the driveway with multiple gunshot wounds. Multiple spent shell casings were found located on the scene at the residence.
As deputies began to administer first aid to Butters until STAR medics arrived, another 911 caller reported that two individuals involved in the altercation were at the Pilot gas station at I-70 with gunshot wounds. Timothy Hayden was lying on the ground behind a vehicle at the Pilot gas station and was pronounced dead on the scene.
Detectives with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police were sent to process the scene at the residence and the Pilot Truck Stop.
During the subsequent investigation, witness statements and video footage were used. According to witness statements, it was discovered that Butters allegedly damaged Timothy Hayden’s residence. After learning this, Jerick loaded two shotguns and an SKS rifle into his vehicle and drove to Butter’s Clay City residence with a passenger.
Butter’s residence was equipped with two outside surveillance cameras that caught footage of Jerick and Timothy Hayden approaching the home before the cameras were unplugged.
As the men approached, the Butter’s took a handgun outside. An alleged argument ensued, with multiple shots fired by multiple people which ultimately left two injured and taken to hospitals, and one deceased.
Assisting the Clay County Sheriff’s Department investigation was Brazil Police Department, Indiana State Police, Parke County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Volunteer Fire, Posey Volunteer Fire, Lifeline, and STAR Ambulance.
Law enforcement reports were submitted to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Officer. After reviewing all the evidence, Prosecutor Emily Clarke charged Hayden with Attempted Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Domestic Batterer. Judge Robert Pell found probable cause and issued a warrant.
Hayden was arrested on Tuesday, November 22, and is incarcerated without bond in the Clay County Justice Center.
NOTE: A charge of a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Meanwhile... An ISP trooper clocked a vehicle traveling at a speed of 101 mph along US 40 near County Road 225 West Monday.
The vehicle was stopped, and the driver showed impairment, failing field sobriety tests.
According to Indiana State Police, the driver had been drinking before the traffic stop and did not have permission to operate the vehicle he was driving.
Daniel R. Turner, 28, Linton, faces charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Resisting Law Enforcement, and Criminal Conversion Unauthorized Control of a Motor Vehicle. Turner is currently in custody at the Clay County Justice Center with a $7,000 cash bond awaiting formal court proceedings.