Elkhart man charged with murdering his roommate will stand trial Monday

Jan. 19—GOSHEN — A man charged with shooting and killing his roommate is expected to face trial Monday.

Dustin McKee (aged 30) is accused of killing Brandon Lowe (38) at their Elkhart apartment house, 424 N. Michigan St.

According to an affidavit from Elkhart police, they responded to a request for help regarding an argument between McKee (left) and Lowe (right), at 7:50 p.m. Although they didn’t give any explanations, they did agree to separate rooms in the house for the remainder of that night. Lowe would then move out of his apartment in two days.

McKee called 911 90 minutes later to inform them that he’d shot Lowe. According to the affidavit McKee claimed that Lowe was harassing him even after police left the house. He then shot Lowe multiple times and then threw his gun into the yard. Officers later discovered the gun after Lowe informed them. Five bullet shell casings were also found in the room.

According to the affidavit, McKee said that he didn’t want to do it and that he didn’t want it to happen when police arrived. Lowe was found dead in one of his bedrooms.

McKee, when questioned by detectives, stated that Lowe forced himself in his bedroom before shooting him. According to the affidavit. The police searched the room and found no obvious damage to the door. However, they noted that the knob was locked and the door was still open. Also, evidence showed that Lowe had locked the door at the time of his shooting.

AUSTIN BOWLLIN

An attorney representing another suspect in murder requested a conference to discuss the status of his case before the Feb. 20 trial.

Austin Bowlin, 37-year-old, is being accused of the March 2020 assassination of Jeffrey Crapo (32).

According to Bowlin’s charging affidavit after shooting Crapo, Bowlin drove Crapo’s body to different locations in Indiana and Michigan in a car. At one point, he forced a witness on the trip to join him for part. Crapo’s corpse was set on fire by the car outside Jackson, Michigan, March 4.

Bowlin was taken into custody in Michigan, where he was initially charged with arson and mutilation. He pleaded no contest in August.

Bowlin will again appear in court on February 16, before his scheduled trial.

CORREON M.

An Elkhart teenager was arrested and charged with murder. Correon Moeux is charged with the murder of Logan Nussbaum (18) of Elkhart in an Oct. 15 shooting.

According to Elkhart police, Nussbaum was driving in the 1200 block Burr Oak Place at 2.45 p.m., when he crashed into two unoccupied cars, and then the tree line next to Carriage House Apartments. Officers attempted to administer first aid, but Nussbaum died at the scene.

Meux, 15 years old, was referred to adult court after he admitted to being a gang member. Meux claimed to be affiliated with the Woody Kappa Gang. However, according to the order waiving Meux, his family, friends, and teachers considered him to be a “good child” and were not aware of his marijuana use or gang affiliation.

Meux’s case will be tried by jurors on August 7.

CRISTIAN A. PARADA QUINTANILLA

The initial hearing of a burglary suspect was rescheduled after the defendant told Elkhart County Circuit Judge Michael Christofeno, during the first moments of trial, that he did not speak English.

Cristian Parada Quintanilla, Elkhart, is being charged with a burglary that occurred on Jan. 14. A probable cause affidavit says that officers responded on Jan. 14 to a call for help at Smokes++ in Market Centre plaza 2024 Elkhart Road. When they arrived, the front door glass had been broken. Officer who responded to the call saw an individual bent over the back of the counter. He went to his vehicle to watch and called for backup.

Parada Quiantanilla told officers, through a translator that he was trying to deport himself and had previously broken into the business. Officers found a large Adidas backpack in gray on the floor, and another backpack near the counter that contained products from the store. The bags contained 34798 items.

The hearing was extended to January 27th and will be in front of Magistrate Eric Ditton. A translator will accompany the proceedings.

JEREMY C. SULT

An initial hearing was held Thursday morning in another burglary case. Jeremy Shult was accused of burglarizing a 2527 California Road home at 11:36 a.m. on Jan. 13.

A probable cause affidavit states that a young man called 911 to report that Shult, 36 was in the house. He also had multiple warrants and that he had gone outside to hide behind a fence. Later, the caller provided a statement confirming that he saw Shult steal items from the home.

After officers arrived at the scene and saw Shult leave the house, they tried to get backup to the youth and bring him to safety. Shult fled in a vehicle disregarding traffic speed limits. He also fled on foot. His loaded firearm of.22 calibre was seen being abandoned in a bush at Kilbourn Street as he fled on foot. Shult was finally apprehended. Officers determined that the approximate value of the purses, jewelry and electronics taken from the house was $6,600 based on property found within the vehicle. Shult has also been convicted for auto theft in 2011, and jail officers said that they found a counterfeit $100 note in his possession during booking.

A bond report was requested. A pretrial status conference was scheduled for February 16, with an omnibus date set for March 16. A trial status conference has been scheduled for July 13, while a jury trial has been scheduled for August 7.

SAM M. LONIELLO

During Thursday’s court proceedings, a peculiar case of robbery was made public.

Nikki Gibson, a resident of Goshen, reported to Goshen Police that she was being treated for a knee injury at Goshen Hospital and that she was having difficulty getting a ride home. Gibson posted requesting help on Facebook. Someone responded. According to court documents, the person she was picked up was 33-year-old Sam Loniello from Niles in Michigan. It drove what she believed to be a lime green Toyota Prius. His real name was unknown at that time. According to the charging statement, the man pulled into the postoffice and requested a sexual act while on his way home. Gibson refused to do so and slapped her about 15 times. The driver then took Gibson’s purse before she got out of the car. It contained two cellphones, $300 cash and a Cash App debit/card. He also had her driver’s licence, prescription, and driver license.

In the affidavit officers stated that they were unable to identify a suspect before Gibson received a text message asking for help. Gibson requested a photograph and was confirmed to be the same person as the assault and robbery. Loniello was the only occupant of the vehicle when an officer arrived at Lassus, 1001 W. Pike St.

Loniello claimed to police that Loniello had never asked for sexual favors. However, she said that Loniello assaulted her while driving in the car. The affidavit states that Loniello pulled over after she scratched him. Loniello also claimed that she got out the car and took his phone, as well as some fake money, to reaffirm that he had not hit her.

According to Loniello’s affidavit, he also claimed that he had been in touch with the woman about meeting at the gas station. He said that he sent photos of himself to her when she asked. However, the messages asking for sex were not from him. Loniello added that he was not sending them through an app or his phone but rather through 4-Chain.

Loniello told officers that he only seemed interested in discussing the sex trading ring going on. He said that he knew specific places in Michiana where it was operating and that he was always faithful to his wife. Laura Loniello, Loniello’s spouse, was also interviewed by officers. She said that Loniello had left the house in the middle of the evening but did not know where he went. Loniello also claimed that he didn’t have any purses.

Loniello has been charged with one count for robbery. Christofeno met Loniello in Circuit Court Thursday for a pre-trial conference. Attorney Michael Banik requested discovery after he entered the case on Dec. 29. A trial status conference is set for May 25, and a jury trial is scheduled for June 19.

CHARLES MILLER

On Thursday, January 15, an Elkhart man was accused of robbing Kroger at 130 W. Hively Ave. in Elkhart. Charles Miller (34), is being charged.

An affidavit states that a caller called police to report a robbery underway. He said that the man had been last seen running northbound past Kroger and had jumped a fence north of Pierre Moran Public Library at 2400 Benham Ave. A caller advised that the man stole a purse belonging to a woman and threatened him with an axe.

Officer located a man matching the description provided to police. He appeared to have bloody hands, and had a blade-up pocket knife sticking out his waistband. The affidavit states that the victim claimed she was returning to her car with her child when she heard someone getting into the backseat. The affidavit states that the man demanded keys to her car or told her to get behind the wheel. She did not consent to this request. However, he took out a knife from her neck and pulled it towards her neck. The affidavit states that her passenger grabbed the man’s arm holding the knife. He then tried to cut the driver’s hands, but she and the gloves she was wearing didn’t get any cuts. The passenger told police she then opened the driver’s side door and placed her keys outside the vehicle. According to court documents, the man approached the driver’s door and took the Coach purse, which contained two Coach wallets and an iPhone, $74 and three silver rings. He then left. The purse was discovered by police near a recycling container. She was then returned with the items.

Miller denied any involvement. Miller’s jury trial for involvement is scheduled for August 8.

Dani Messick is The Goshen News’ education and entertainment reporter. She can be reached by email at [email protected] Or call 574-538-2065