Sullivan County Grand Jury Indicts William Ray Grimes for the 2012 Murder of Lowell Badger

Lowell Badger was killed in his home on December 8, 2012.  The Indiana State Police have continued to work this case since that day.   

In early 2024, Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Mischler learned she would need to request a special prosecutor for the case.  Special Prosecuting Attorneys Rob Roberts (lead), Dave Powell, and Courtney Lawrence were appointed on the case.   

On April 17, 2024, a grand jury was impaneled in Sullivan Superior Court to review the case.   After six days of evidence and testimony, the grand jury issued a True Bill (indictments) for the following offenses: 

William Ray Grimes

• Murder, a Class A Felony

• Burglary, a Class A Felony

• Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, a Class A Felony 

Grand Jury proceedings are secret by law.  No further information regarding the proceedings will be made available.   

"This is the beginning of the criminal process," said Roberts.  "Once again, we encourage anyone that has information related to the murder of Mr. Badger to contact the Indiana State Police.”

Cold Case from 1994 Results in North Carolina Man Pleading to 30 Years

On December 5, 1994, a nineteen-year-old woman was kidnapped in Owensboro, Kentucky, and ordered to drive to southern Spencer County in Indiana under the threat of physical harm.  Once in Spencer County, the victim was sexually assaulted by an unknown assailant.  The victim was then ordered to lie on the rear floorboard of her vehicle while the assailant drove back to Kentucky, parked the car, and fled.  At the time, Indiana State Police and the Owensboro Police Department worked on the investigation jointly, but no suspect was ever identified.

In late 2022, Owensboro Police Department reached out to Indiana State Police Jasper District about submitting DNA evidence collected in 1994 into the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, in hopes of identifying a potential suspect.  In January 2023, it was determined the DNA matched Robert Daniel Shelton (60), of Hickory, North Carolina.  Shelton had an unrelated conviction in 1996 in Kentucky that required him to submit to a DNA sample.

In February 2023, Indiana State Police Detective Josh Greer and Owensboro Police Department Detective Cody Cliff traveled to Hickory, North Carolina to interview Shelton and obtain a confirmatory DNA sample, working in conjunction with the Hickory and Brookford, North Carolina Police Departments.  Indiana State Police Laboratory confirmed in March 2023 that Robert Shelton was the perpetrator of the 1994 assault.  An arrest warrant was issued for Shelton for a charge of rape.  Contact was made with North Carolina authorities and Shelton was arrested at his residence without incident.  Shelton was later extradited to Indiana.

On April 23, 2024, Robert Shelton was sentenced to thirty years at the Indiana Department of Correction after previously pleading guilty to the rape charge. Spencer County Prosecutor Megan Bennet said, “This case exemplifies the proficient investigative abilities of both law enforcement agencies. Without their diligent efforts in collecting DNA evidence, this perpetrator would have never been held accountable for his crime. The courageous victim in this matter finally sees justice after three decades of waiting.”

Original Suspect Sketch

ISP SQUAD CAR STRUCK BY DRIVER ON INTERSTATE 57 EAST OF ANNA

ULLIN – On April 23, 2024, at approximately 9:06 p.m., Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a traffic crash in Union County involving an ISP trooper’s squad car hit by a motorist who failed to move over.

 On the above date and time, an ISP squad car was parked on the inside shoulder on Interstate 57 northbound near milepost 37.5, just north of Lick Creek Road, with emergency lights activated, handling a motorist assist. The trooper was inside of the squad when it was struck by a white Infiniti. The trooper was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Infiniti, 59-year-old Kimberly Keser of Creal Springs, IL., reported no injuries on scene. Keser was cited for the Move Over Law – Failure to Yield to Stationary Emergency Vehicle and Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident.

 Already in 2024, ISP has suffered 14 Move Over Law-related crashes with six troopers injured. In 2023, ISP had 21 Move Over Law-related crashes with seven troopers injured and suffered 25 crashes in 2022, leaving 13 troopers injured. ISP reminds the public that the Move Over Law, also known as “Scott’s Law,” requires all drivers to move over when approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated.   

 A person who violates the Move Over Law faces a fine of no less than $250 and no more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years. Additional information can be found at the following link: https://isp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/340d57cd956c453da2de25af804c268d.

Secretary of state office continues offering more online services

By ALEX ABBEDUTO  
Capitol News Illinois 
abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com 

Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office.

This process is one of the latest initiatives of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ ongoing effort to modernize the office and its services. 

Notaries are state-appointed officials who administer oaths, certify documents and act as witnesses to document singings for things like affidavits and bills of sale.  Until now, notary services could be performed remotely so long as the parties involved were in Illinois and the notary physically signed and sealed the notarized document. 

Now, the process can occur fully online through one of 12 notarization service providers listed on the Illinois secretary of state’s website, ilsos.gov. All parties can now participate remotely and notaries are allowed to use electronic signatures and seals. Individuals using e-notary services must have a valid ID and access to a device supporting audio-video communication. 

The office is also in the process of moving other functions online, including by creating an electronic lien and title system allowing drivers to manage vehicle titles online instead of through the mail. That system is slated for rollout this summer, according to a “modernization report” published by the secretary of state’s office last week.

Illinoisans can already file incorporation and court of claims documents, access business service and lobbyist databases, search for jobs and locate archived records through the office’s updated website.

The office rolled out “Skip-the-Line” and “Do-it-Online” initiatives last year in an effort to unclog DMV services by extending facility hours and online services and allowing Illinoisans to schedule appointments online. 

Read more: State driver services facilities to require appointments in more than 40 locations | As online DMV services plagued by no-shows, secretary of state launches changes

More than 1.5 million appointments have been scheduled since the “Skip-the-Line” initiative was rolled out last fall, according to the office’s modernization report. The state has also opened four senior-only facilities in Bridgeview, Calumet Park, Evanston and Westchester. 

The office is also going to start rolling out kiosks that would allow Illinoisans to renew their licenses, IDs and vehicle registrations at various community institutions, like libraries and grocery stores. 

Giannoulias said they will start with 10 locations – including one on the second floor of the state Capitol – and “hopefully” expand to 150 within a year. 

The report also indicates the office is cross-training over 2,000 DMV staff on all offered services to minimize the number of different people a customer might need to speak to during a visit.

Alexi Giannoulias announces updates to his “Skip-the-Line” program in July 2023. That program moved driver services to either an appointment-based system or online. (Capitol News Illinois phot by Andrew Adams)

Hitting Wife With Can Of Vegetables Results In Arrest

On 04.20.24 the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service reference a domestic battery. It was reported that a male family member had entered the residence, argued, scuffled and struck a female in the face causing a cut to her head. The male then left the area with his wife and while en route back to their residence he reportedly struck his wife with a can of vegetables, denting the can. Once the deputy made contact with the couple, 59 year old Alvin Addison was taken into custody and transported to the White County Jail. Addison has been charged with two counts of Domestic battery and is being detained by the court.

Three Arrested After Report Of A Suspicious Woman Standing By Route 1

On 04.18.24 the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious circumstance of a woman standing by the road on Highway 1 south at N 1120 Blvd. The deputy responded to the area and initially did not locate anyone. The deputy did observe a vehicle at a burned out residence that he thought was odd. Further investigation eventually revealed 3 occupants in an SUV with Indiana plates. The car had been parked with a piece of wood obstructing the registration. This has been an area where stolen vehicles have been recovered in the past. Of the three occupants the driver, Madison A. Pennington, 25 of Lawrenceville, IL, returned with a suspended driver’s license, and two active warrants out of Richland and Henderson (KY) Counties. Another female passenger, Ashlie G. Watson, 25 of Evansville, IN was found to have an active warrant with no bond out of Vanderburgh County. Jason R. McGill, 43 of Mt. Carmel was a rear passenger in this vehicle and had an active White County Warrant. Upon further investigation it was discovered that McGill was been incarcerated in Vanderburgh County and had been released four days prior. McGill and Pennington were determined to have acquired the GMC SUV from a person McGill was incarcerated with in Vanderburgh County without that person’s consent. McGill and Pennington were subsequently charged with Possession of a stolen vehicle as well. Pennington also received a charge of possession of methamphetamine. All were transported to the White County Jail and have been held over after detention hearings.

Pair Arrested After Trespassing At Former Bellmont School

On 04.13.24 the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of trespassing at the former Bellmont school in Bellmont. The owner had been alerted that two males had entered the building which is private property. Once on scene the Deputy spoke to all involved parties and took charges form the owner for trespassing to real property and criminal damage to property. A juvenile was released to a parent/guardian and a 19 year old was charged with trespassing to real property and criminal damage to property and released with a notice to appear.

Vincennes Man Arrested On Domestic Battery Charge

On 04.12.24 at 11:59 a.m. the Wabash County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of domestic battery that had occurred in the parking lot of CJ’s gas station in Allendale. The caller advised the man and woman who were having the dispute left south bound on Highway 1 from CJ’s. The deputy located the white Cadillac and conducted an investigation into the matter. The investigation resulted in a domestic battery charge for Benjamin C. White 33, of Vincennes IN. White was located walking along Highway 1 where he was taken into custody and transported to the White County Jail. White was released two days later with a notice to appear due to the PTFA.