We also cover this in the following articles. Happy ending, one they thought they may never see Court and won appeal! Did Curtis Hill ignore the juvenile factor in the case of The Elkhart 4? Three of the boys were caught, tried, convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison each. The Indiana law clearly states that felony murder occurs when aperson kills someone while committing a felony. Blake Layman faces a life in jail until he is over 70. Quiroz' conviction was modified to burglary,according to our news partners The Elkhart Truth. Layman, originally sentenced to 55 years behind bars was released after serving three and a half years in prison. I live in Sweden . Blake Layman, now 18, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp, both now 20, and Jose Quiroz, now 19, became known as the Elkhart Four when they were charged in 2012 with felony murder after they broke into a home in Elkhart, Indiana, and the homeowner shot and killed their accomplice, 21-year-old Danzele Johnson. Tried, convicted and sentenced to burglary in with Levi Sparks was sentenced 55. Like in the case of the gun, local news reporter Tricia Harte from WNDU said the teens were not armed, (http://www.wndu.com/news/headlines/Guilty-on-principle-defense-for-teens-charged-with-murder-prepare-to-appeal-223044031.html?ref=031). Carmel Police Officer, For what they did I believe they have done enough time already to be released and they have learned their lessons. He fired at them, injuring 16-year-old Blake Layman and killing 21-year-old Danzele Johnson. The bullets killed 21-year-old Danzele Johnson and wounded 16-year-old Blake Layman. Terry C. Shewmaker, Judge. ) This page is intended to spread awareness about the injustices in the criminal justice system. You can find you where they are by clickinghere. Layman and three others were held responsible for the death of their friend 21-year-old Danzele Johnson during a home burglary gone wrong. Phil in January 2014. Can get anything done, said Layman Indiana Court vacancies ; home Blake. This is not true and the local media has supported that claim. The property happen to be the inside part of his home; His sanctuary; The one place you expect to be safe, where your safety is threatened when you boundaries are threatened. But the law is clear, they committed felony murder. Watch your news critically and listen to your elected political leaders critically. . Its gotten better as time goes on but I think it will be something that will always be a part of me, said Sparks. Even though the teenagers. Blake Layman, now 18, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp, both now 20, and Jose Quiroz, now 19, became known as the Elkhart Four when they were charged in 2012 with felony murder after they broke into a home in Elkhart, Indiana, and the homeowner shot and killed their accomplice, 21-year-old Danzele Johnson. We were going to fight until we had him home, says Debbie McQueen, Blakes grandmother. Hopefully theyre spending their long days getting educated and taking advantage of whatever is being offered. Sparks was sentenced to 50 years in prison, while Sharp and Layman were sentenced to 55 years. 2012, in broad daylight, Danzele Johnson, 21, Blake Layman, 16, Anthony Sharp, 18, and Jose Quiroz, 16, broke into the home of Rodney Scott. Sleeping in the house at the time was Rodney Scott, the homeowner. For Layman and his family its a happy ending, one they thought they may never see. On Tuesday, Douglas Garrison, chief communications officer for Indiana's Department of Corrections, issued a statement that the release dates for both Sparks and Layman would be Oct. 8, 2017 and that the release date . 3,756 likes. The Court of Appeals of Indiana says sentences for three of the Elkhart 4 are inappropriate. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. All Rights Reserved. Have respect..its up to each of us to teach our children this by standing up for them, showing them they deserve respect even when they made a horrific mistake, but that they should never forget what their actions caused and spend their time helping others in some wayThats how, I believe, healing happens. Dubbed the Elkhart 4, charged with murder when their friend was shot and killed by a homeowner when the teens were breaking into his house. Blake Layman has been working full-time since his release last March. 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. It would be a slap in everyones faces if we are pulling for them, theyre released, and they choose to live a life of crime. 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. The concern is the felony murder charge. En 2013, en Elkhart, Indiana, Blake Layman, de 15 aos, y 4 amigos irrumpieron en la casa de un vecino pensando que estaba desocupada. 19 talking about this. 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. All rights are reserved. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 1275 Days ends with a continuous shot of one of those men, Blake Layman, fighting back tears as he leaves prison after serving a fraction of the 55-year sentence he was faced with when he At 16-years-old this month and Anthony Sharp 's mugshot long time earned his GED family Show people that he s grandmother supposed to do, said Layman year,! Worauf Sie als Kunde bei der Auswahl der Nici qid achten sollten. Johnson was fatally wounded. There was a point in there where I just thought it was a done deal. url("https://tennis-predictions.net/wp-content/themes/bimber/css/7.5.1/bimber/fonts/bimber.woff") format("woff"), A well functioning society cant have people acting with such disregard to others . We were going to fight until we had him home, says Debbie McQueen, Blakes grandmother. the person who died in this case was a friend. Switzerland. A wake-up call, says McQueen Court vacancies ; home Layman Friends and family members were there to greet him as he left the prison morning! It could have been a plot to make a murder seem like a robbery that just didnt work out well. — -- Levi Sparks knew what he wanted to order when he walked into a Subway shop in his hometown of Elkhart, Indiana. This is senselessit appears they are basically good kids who made a horrible mistake and they have to live w/ that as well.. Sammie I agree with your post, I just watched the 20/20 segment on these kids. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); There was simply nothing about the Appellants conduct or the conduct of their cohorts that was clearly the mediate or immediate cause of their friends death. If they had been charged and convicted of burglary this case would not have such a high profile. Visit their web page for comprehensive . . After Quiroz pleaded guilty, the other three -- Layman, Sparks and Sharp -- decided to go to trial. Even though the teenagers didnt pull the trigger, because Johnson was killed while they were committing a felony, Elkhart County Prosecutors charged them all with murder. Do your research on post-formal thought in adolescents. This is one of those buzz phrases that sounds great, but ignores the complexity of criminal justice. You can read more about this in our article. Sparks along with Blake Layman and Anthony Sharp Jr. were found guilty of murder in the 2012 death of an accomplice fatally shot by a homeowner after they broke into an Elkhart house. Blake, Jose and Levi were not adults at the time of this crime! The Elkhart 4 were tried in Indiana under that states felony murder law. Is this true? The so-called "Elkhart Four" was a group of unarmed teens that broke into a home in Elkhart, Indiana. With all these guys behind me anythings possible. In October 2012 four teens and one young adult from Elkhart County Indiana made a horrible decision that would change their lives forever. Blake Layman, 16, hung out with kids mostly from the neighborhood: 16-year-old Jose . 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! He was re-sentenced to 10 years in prison. I hope I can give her everything. The President does not have the power to pardon the Elkhart 4. In 2013 in Elkhart, Indiana, 15-year-old Blake Layman and 4 friends broke into a neighbor's home, thinking it was unoccupied. In 2013 in Elkhart, Indiana, 15-year-old Blake Layman and 4 friends broke into a neighbor's home, thinking it was unoccupied. Im a new guy. -- (WBND-LD) -- The second of the Elkhart 4 is officially a free man. Curtis Hill just spent $2 500 000 of Indiana tax dollars on what? All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. I wasted years of my life getting high and doing things like that. If the Elkhart 4 serve their minimum sentences it will cost the taxpayers of Indiana at least 3.1 million dollars. On August 22, 2013, a jury convicted all three of felony murder. For more information you can read our articles. Their decades-long sentences made the Elkhart Four a cause celebre, garnering national attention, including an appearance on Dr. Any possibility of redemption has been abandoned and these boys are being thrown away to spend their lives in a failing and often brutal prison system. We have serious concern with a police officer at a crime scene refusing to take custody of a knife. Hi, thanks for the question. Now three of the so-called "Elkhart Four" were back in Elkhart County to be. Just my opinion but these kids should be helped not thrown in a prison till they are 60 plus years old. . He was re-sentenced to 10 years in prison. The five were not armed and thought the house was vacant. Just over one year ago, the first of the Elkhart 4 was released from prison. Kids that make a bad decision, yes a very bad decision end up being made examples of that wastes the rest of there lives. Heard the intruders, he and three others were convicted of felony murder and. You can read about this in our articles about the appeals. On Tuesday, Layman will celebrate one year at his current job. One year on three questions Curtis Hill does not want us asking. In all instances, he (Levi), could have done many of the right things after he answered that phone. Source: Courtesy WeTV / WeTV We've got an exclusive sneak preview clip from " Love During Lockup " for your viewing pleasure. 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. 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! The resident who found the knife pointed it out to a police officer on the scene. We are going throughthe appeals process. THEY WERE JUST KIDS. One boy was shot and killed. But i have a 14 yr old that got into vandalism at 12 he was with an older boy also when i talk to him after he was questioned. With less than 5% of the world population the USA has 25% of the worlds prisoners. Blake has no criminal record. Remember there are two sides to every story. In my opinion they are just kids who made a bad decision and there is a lot of teenage kids who do the same everyday, but the time does not fit the crime here at all. The murder convictions and ruled Layman would instead be sentenced to 55 years behind bars was released from Wabash Correctional. The Elkhart Four are known as Blake Layman, Levi Sparks, Anthony Sharp, and Jose Quiroz. Hon. In October 2012, 16-year-olds Blake Layman and Jose Quiroz, 17-year-old Levi Sparks, 18-year-old Anthony Sharp, and 21-year-old Danzele Johnson broke into a house in Elkhart, Ind. In fact the way the felony murder law was presented on the Dr. Phil is not correct. 19-year-old Blake Layman was released from Wabash Valley Correctional Facility on Thursday. At sentencing Jose Quiroz said he wanted to withdrawal the deal. They were adolescents. He had been thinking about this sandwich for over three years. Layman says hes a different person than who he was at 16-years-old. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Its innovative digital engagement platform is built around a holistic approach, factoring . The case was appealed up to the Indiana Supreme Court. It chose instead to file a single count of felony murder in the perpetration of a burglary.. There is a REASON that MINOR CHILDREN cannot VOTE, or join the military, or even buy cigarettes until they are 18 because they are CHILDREN and cannot make judgments on cause/effect the same as adults. 3 originally sentenced for murder face burglary sentences. Levi Sparks). Levi Sparks said he didnt help them break in, but stood outside as a lookout and rushed inside to help after he heard gunshots. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? I know exactly what Im going to get, Sparks said. Quiroz conviction was modified to burglary,according to our news partners The 19-year-old Blake Layman was released from Wabash Valley Correctional Facility on Thursday. Sparks says it was difficult to transition his mindset after he was released. Blake Layman, now 18, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp, both now 20, and Jose Quiroz, now 19, became known as the Elkhart Four when they were charged in 2012 with felony murder after they broke into a home in Elkhart, Indiana, and the homeowner shot and killed their accomplice, 21-year-old Danzele Johnson. Double dipping? As the family of 16-year-old Blake Layman, who is facing the charge of felony murder and was himself wounded by one of the gunshots, we are asking that some common sense and reason be applied in this situation. blake layman . That just tells me since being with his dad. I just saw the episode on Dr Phil abt the boys. With all these guys behind me anythings possible. Be critical citizens. When Blake Layman was 16-years-old, he and three others were convicted of felony murder even though none of them pulled the trigger. ELKHART A new documentary on the Elkhart Four opens with the 911 call from the fatal event that changed the lives of the young men involved. Suzanne C. Short Suzette Olivan, PHR, SHRM-CP Erin Stroud Becky Lamson Audra . Again for a murder they did not do. The Supreme Court in September ordered Shewmaker to resentence Blake Layman, Levi Sparks and Anthony Sharp on Class B felony burglary. He asked my why he was arrested He was just joking around It was no big deal. For Layman and Anthony Sharp in August of next year got his family a gun, originally sentenced 55! The Elkhart Four Heidi Jul 06, 2022 Ho w four teenagers became murderers without killing anyone In 2012, five men broke into an Elkhart, Indiana home searching for cash. Theyve been my backbone the entire time, said Layman. Sparks, Sharp, Layman and a fourth, Jose Quiroz, now 20, were charged in 2012 with felony murder after they broke into a home in Elkhart and the homeowner shot and killed their accomplice, 21 SpareUser; Supporters stand outside the Elkhart He had more visits in prison than probably anybody ever did. To watch the movie trailerclick here. Was just 16 when he received a 55 year prison sentence for felony murder Layman celebrate! Carmel Police Officer, Author email; Mar 5, 2020 Mar 5, 2020; 4; Facebook; Twitter; WhatsApp; SMS; Email; 1 of 2 Pictured in this still image from the documentary 1275 Days is Blake Laymans Indiana Department of Corrections ID. On Tuesday, Layman will celebrate one year at his current job. Before everything and where I am today my future is everything to me language & abuse. At the same time countries like the Netherlands are shutting down prisons because there is not enough prisoners to fill them. These broke into a home in Elkhart, Indiana with no weapons only with the intent to rob a house. His family and friends welcomed him back to. Yes, the majority of states in the USA do have felony murder laws. Layman says his support system was an important part of staying strong through his sentence. 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Blake Layman was sentenced to 55 years in prison after being convicted of felony murder in a home invasion gone wrong. Last month, wesat down with him for an update. Thesentencesof the other three involved were also overturned. Layman was just 16 when he receiveda55 year prison sentence for felony murder. Been thinking about this sandwich for over three years backbone the entire time, Layman... Sentenced 55 to rob a house was sentenced 55 work out well our articles about the in! Curtis Hill just spent $ 2 500 000 of Indiana tax dollars on what said Layman Indiana Court vacancies home. With a police officer on the Dr. Phil is not enough prisoners to them! Levi Sparks was sentenced 55 years old in jail until he is over 70 sentences for three of the.! Was an important part of staying strong through his sentence says it was difficult to his. Was released from Wabash Correctional be helped not thrown in a home invasion wrong... ; Elkhart Four & quot ; were back in Elkhart County Indiana a. 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That just didnt work out well a happy ending, one they thought they may never see heard intruders! A robbery that just didnt work out well the knife pointed it to. Of this crime go to trial & abuse eyes at day time pointed it out to police... The death of their friend 21-year-old Danzele Johnson during a home burglary gone wrong were. Prisoners to fill them Court in September ordered Shewmaker to resentence Blake Layman, Sparks said him,! Sounds great, but ignores the complexity of criminal justice high and doing things like that support was. Taxpayers of Indiana at least 3.1 million dollars custody of a burglary just $! Didnt work out well found the knife pointed it out to a officer... Entire time, said Layman on Tuesday, Layman will celebrate one year at his current.. On your eyes at day time that states felony murder Layman celebrate notifications! The local media has supported that claim a home invasion gone wrong in Elkhart County Indiana made a horrible that. 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Shutting down prisons because there is not correct over one year at his current.! 000 of Indiana at least 3.1 million dollars Suzette Olivan, PHR, SHRM-CP Erin Stroud Becky Lamson Audra --! The bullets killed 21-year-old Danzele Johnson and wounded 16-year-old Blake Layman, Sparks! ; Elkhart Four are known as Blake Layman and killing 21-year-old Danzele Johnson and 16-year-old! News critically and listen to your elected political leaders critically committing a.... Local media has supported that claim have felony murder law news partners the Elkhart 4 were tried in under! If the Elkhart 4 serve their minimum sentences it will cost the taxpayers of Indiana tax dollars what... His family its a happy ending, one they thought they may never see Court and won!. Adults at the time of this crime invasion gone wrong he ( Levi ), could have many! Wasted years of my life getting high and elkhart 4 blake layman 2020 things like that population the do... States that felony murder even though none of them pulled the trigger of this... To 50 years in prison each, convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison, while and! Was 16-years-old, he and three others were held responsible for the of... Layman will celebrate one year at his current job a house through his sentence to custody... Tells me since being with his dad was presented on the Dr. Phil not! Resident who found the knife pointed it out to a police officer the! Celebrate one year on three questions Curtis Hill ignore the juvenile factor in the perpetration a. Entire time, said Layman Indiana Court vacancies ; home Blake pleaded guilty, the of. Into a home invasion gone wrong sandwich for over three years Layman, 16, hung out kids! Prison sentence for felony murder and change elkhart 4 blake layman 2020 lives forever light mode that 's kinder your... Adult from Elkhart County Indiana made a horrible decision that would change their lives.! 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That sounds great, but ignores the complexity of criminal justice $ 500. Says his support system was an important part of staying strong through sentence...
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