Washington County Superior Court Judge Dustin Houchin set the bail on four individuals charged in the killing of 17-year-old Hunter B Rowley at $1 million cash bond each.
A pre-trial meeting is set for July 27 and the trial is tentatively scheduled for October 20.
Three suspects were arrested on June 15th and 16th in connection to the shooting —
Jessica Lambert, 35, of Pekin, Indiana — arrested on probable cause on Tuesday, June 16 and charged with intimidation (Level 6 felony) and false informing.
Kendall Cline, 20, of Salem, Indiana — arrested Monday, June 15th and charged with intimidation (Level 6 felony) and dealing in a Schedule I controlled substance (Level 6 felony).
• Ethan D. Edison, 22, of Salem, Indiana — arrested Tuesday, June 16th and charged with intimidation (Level 5 felony), dealing in a Schedule I controlled substance (Level 6 felony), and pointing a firearm (Level 6 felony).
Lambert’s son, Isaiah, 20, of Salem, was arrested on June 17th and charged initially with Intimidation, Dealing in a schedule I II or III controlled substance, Pointing loaded firearm at another person, Attempted murder and Murder.
Isaiah turned himself in at the Washington County Jail after an arrest warrant was issued through the Washington County Superior Court.
During the initial hearing this afternoon, Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Tara Coats Hunt said Lambert had shaved his head after the incident and fled to Kentucky before turning himself in.
Following a hearing held today, all charges were formally amended to the following:
Isaiah Lambert charges —
Murder
Murder, a Felony
Attempted Murder
Attempted Murder, a Felony
Intimidation, Level 5 Felony
Dealing in Schedule I-III Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony
Pointing a Firearm at Another Person, Level 6 Felony
Isaiah Lambert remains incarcerated at the Washington County Jail and is currently held on $1 million cash bond.
The following are new charges for the three who had been arrested previously.
Jessica D. Lambert, 35, of Salem
Aiding Murder
Aiding Murder, a Felony
Aiding Attempted Murder
Aiding Intimidation, Level 5 Felony
False Informing, Level 5 Felony
Aiding Dealing in Schedule I–III Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony
Kendall N. Cline, 20, of Salem
Aiding Murder
Aiding Murder, a Felony
Aiding Attempted Murder
Intimidation, Level 6 Felony
Dealing in Schedule I-III Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony
Ethan D. Edison, 22, of Salem
Aiding Murder
Aiding Murder, a Felony
Aiding Attempted Murder
Intimidation, Level 5 Felony
Dealing in Schedule I-III Controlled Substance, Level 6 Felony
Pointing a Firearm at Another Person, Level 6 Felony
The Initial Encounter and Robbery
According to the investigation, and as outlined in the probable cause affidavit, the events of June 13 allegedly stemmed from a drug-related robbery that occurred earlier in the evening at a residence near Salem involving suspected THC vape cartridges.
Approximately two hours later, those involved in the incident again encountered each other near Big Springs Church, where shots were fired and 17-year-old Hunter Rowley was struck.
Rowley’s pickup left the roadway and overturned in a wooded area, where first responders located the vehicle and found him critically injured. He died a short time later at the scene.
Detectives interviewed multiple witnesses, reviewed electronic communications, and examined home security video as part of the ongoing investigation, ultimately identifying those believed to be involved and leading to the arrests and charges now filed in this case.
According to police records, the incident began when Rowley and an unnamed witness drove a blue Ford Ranger to meet Isaiah Lambert, and his girlfriend, Kendall “Blake” Cline, 20, to purchase a shoebox full of “carts,” a common term for THC vape cartridges.
When Lambert and Cline requested payment via Cash App, Rowley provided a fake account, and allegedly pulled a gun on Lambert, took the drugs, and drove away.
According to police, shortly after the robbery, Cline sent a Snapchat message to a friend stating that Rowley had robbed her boyfriend at gunpoint and “was going to die”.
Rowley, realizing the danger, told his passenger to lock the doors and that they were heading to his house.
The Pursuit
According to Indiana State Police information, security camera footage from the Salem home of Lambert’s grandmother on Bee Line Road, captured the immediate aftermath of the robbery at approximately 6:25 PM.
After Rowley’s truck fled the driveway, Lambert and his friend, Ethan D. Edison, 22, were seen in the yard, with Edison pointing a firearm in the direction of the fleeing vehicle.
The footage then shows a chaotic scene as Lambert, Cline, Edison, and Lambert’s mother, 35-year-old Jessica D. Lambert, scrambled to vehicles to chase the teens.
Audio from the security cameras picked up someone saying, “We’re taking your car” and “Don’t worry about it”.
According to Edison’s later statements to police, Jessica Lambert urged her son to pursue Rowley, allegedly saying, “no, f*** that don’t need to be relaxing. Let’s go get him”.
The group split into two vehicles: a gray Pontiac driven by Jessica Lambert with Isaiah and Cline as passengers, and a bronze Toyota Venza driven by Edison.
The Shootout and Crash
Rowley and his passenger encountered the two pursuing cars waiting near the Big Springs Church, just about 9 miles south of Salem.
According to the passenger, Isaiah Lambert pointed a firearm at their vehicle, prompting Rowley to shoot first.
Lambert and the other individuals returned fire with at least one bullet striking Rowley.
A woman cleaning the church at the time reported hearing two vehicles pull into the parking lot, followed by approximately six gunshots between 7:15 PM and 7:20 PM
Ford Ranger subsequently ran off the roadway and crashed into the woods, ending up on its side with bullet holes in the windshield.
The friend in the vehicle, which Police only identify as Witness 1, crawled out of the vehicle and sought help.
First responders were dispatched at 6:50 PM following a 911 call about an inverted vehicle with entrapment, and Rowley was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Investigation and Arrests
When questioned by detectives, Jessica Lambert initially claimed she was unaware of the robbery and was simply giving her son a calm, relaxed ride to meet a friend.
However, when confronted with the security footage contradicting her story, she became visibly emotional and requested an attorney.
Court Proceedings and Next Steps
Today, at an initial hearing, Judge Dustin Houchin set the bond for all four defendants at $1 million cash.
The two male defendants, Isaiah Lambert and Ethan Edison, were represented by private attorneys, while the two female defendants, Jessica Lambert and Kendall Cline, will be provided with court-appointed legal representation.
A pre-trial conference for all four suspects is scheduled for July 27, with a preliminary trial date set for October 20.
As Indiana State Police detectives continue their work in this active investigation, the Indiana StatePolice would like to acknowledge and thank the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana DNR Conservation Officers, the Salem Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance and cooperation.
All subjects are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
