A Shoals man is in jail and has been charged in a double homicide.

Arrested and Charged with two counts of murder was Nathan Baker, 33, Rural Shoals. Both counts are level 1 felonies.

Dead are Alan Sims, 82, and Tom Tharp, 52, both of 8030 Fred Sims Road, Shoals, IN

During the evening of Tuesday, August 25 and into the morning hours of Wednesday, August 26, law enforcement officers in Martin County had been searching for Tom Tharp, 52 , Shoals, who had been reported missing by his family.

At approximately 9:53 A.M., Martin County Deputy Kevin McBeth arrived at 8030 Fred Sims Road, Shoals, to attempt to locate Tharp.

Deputy McBeth, while checking a detached garage, located Alan Sims, 82, Shoals, lying in the garage deceased.

Investigators believe that Sims had suffered a single gunshot wound in what appeared to be a homicide.

Through the course of the investigation, deputies, with troopers and investigators from the Indiana State Police, began attempting to locate Baker.

Investigators were informed that Baker had previously lived on Sims’s property and had been asked to leave. Additionally, investigators learned that Baker had been seen on the property multiple times within the last several days.

Investigators had previously dispatched a request for officers to observe for a green 1997 Pontiac Sunfire, belonging to Tharp. Around 2:17 P.M., Lawrence County deputies located the Pontiac traveling northbound on State Road 450.

After attempting to initiate a traffic stop on the Pontiac, the driver failed to stop and led deputies on a pursuit to State Road 158, where he crashed.

Officers immediately found that Baker was the driver; he was taken into custody without further incident at2:32 P.M. Additionally, a shotgun that investigators believe to be the alleged murder weapon was located inside the Pontiac.

While officers were again searching the Sims’ property, officers located Tharp lying in a garden, deceased, approximately 30 yards south of the detached garage in which Sims was located. Investigators believe Tharp had also suffered a single gunshot wound.

After continuing their investigation, investigators believe that they had sufficient probable cause to charge Baker with two counts of Murder. He is currently being held in the Martin County Jail.

Investigating Agency: Indiana State Police; Assisting Agencies: Martin, Lawrence, and Daviess County Sheriff’s Departments, Washington Police Department.

This morning troopers from the Indiana State Police Post at Sellersburg looked into a complaint of possible drug activity taking place at 331 Muriel Drive in Scottsburg.

When troopers arrived at the residence they saw what was believed to be drug activity taking place inside of the home. They filed for and received a search warrant through the Scott County Courts.

As a result of the search warrant troopers located Schedule Two and Three Controlled Substances, Methamphetamine and Paraphernalia.

Troopers arrested five people out of the home on drug related charges and incarcerated them at the Scott County Jail. Sandra Hardin, one of the arrested, was also charged with Disorderly Conduct after she allegedly defecated on herself and threatened to wipe it all over a trooper’s police car.

Arrested and Charges: 1) Sandra Hardin, 66, 331 Muriel Drive in Scottsburg. Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Schedule Two Controlled Substance, Possession of a Schedule Three Controlled Substance, Maintaining a Common Nuisance and Disorderly Conduct.

2) Anthony Fortner, 44, 331 Muriel Drive in Scottsburg Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Schedule Two Controlled Substance, Possession of a Schedule Three Controlled Substance and Maintaining a Common Nuisance.

3) Justin “Booger” Roberts, 37, 5305 North Water Tower Road, Austin, IN. Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Schedule Two Controlled Substance, Possession of a Schedule Three Controlled Substance and Visiting a Common Nuisance.

4) Elisa Hanner, 36, 1254 Pearl Street, Austin, IN. Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Schedule Two Controlled Substance, Possession of a Schedule Three Controlled Substance and Visiting a Common Nuisance.

5) Jason Schneck, 40, 3201 N. Bethlehem Road, Austin, IN. Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Schedule Two Controlled Substance, Possession of a Schedule Three Controlled Substance and Visiting a Common Nuisance.

This investigation is continuing.

A four month long drug investigation ended late this week with arrests and seizures of multiple active methamphetamine labs.

In April 2015, Trooper Mitchell Wier and Washington Police Department Officer Brandon Garland began an investigation from information they had received during a traffic stop in Washington. The information gained led officers to believe that a methamphetamine manufacturing operation was occurring at two Knox County addresses.

At approximately 3:00 A.M., Trooper Wier, Officer Garland, and troopers from the Evansville Post simultaneously arrived at the two locations. Troopers from the Evansville Post arrived at 7280 South Hickory Corner Road, Monroe City, and spoke with Timothy Lindauer, 41, Vincennes. After searching the residence, troopers found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Lindauer, Levi Hinkle, 27, Bicknell, and Jennifer Hartley, 30, Monroe City, who were also in the residence, were arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine. They were transported to the Knox County Jail. After arriving at the jail, Hinkle was found to have methamphetamine hidden on his person. He was charged with an additional count of trafficking with an inmate.

At the same time officers arrived at 1212 Buchanan Street, Monroe City. At the residence officers spoke with Benjamin Jefferson, 53 and Annette Mize, 42, Monroe City. Through the course of the investigation, officers smelled strong chemical odors coming from the residence and, after searching, located six “one-pot” methamphetamine labs, finished methamphetamine, manufacturing precursors, and drug paraphernalia. Jefferson and Mize were placed into custody and transported to the Knox County Jail.

Investigating Officer: Trooper Mitchell Wier
Assisting Officers: Washington PD Officer Brandon Garland, Troopers Brett Pool, William Campbell, Hunter Manning, Ryan Johnson, Ted Clamme

Arrested and Charges:
Timothy Lindauer, 41
7280 South Hickory Corner Road, Monroe City
– Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony

Levi Seth Hinkle, 27
1913 Washington Street, Bicknell
– Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
– Trafficking with an Inmate, Level 5 Felony

Jennifer M. Hartley, 30
7280 South Hickory Corner Road, Monroe City
– Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
– Warrant: Probation Violation

Benjamin A. Jefferson, 53
1212 Buchanan Street, Monroe City
– Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
– Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
– Possession of Precursors with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
– Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony
– Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor
– Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, Level 4 Felony

Annette M. Mize, 42
1212 Buchanan Street, Monroe City
– Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
– Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 4 Felony
– Possession of Precursors with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine, Level 6 Felony
– Maintaining a Common Nuisance, Level 6 Felony
– Possession of Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor