Martin County (Dover Hill): The Indiana State Police and Martin County Sheriff’s Department investigated a double homicide Tuesday in Dover Hill, north of Shoals.
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 Nathan Baker, 33, Shoals. 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 at 2:32 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: Indiana Conservation Officers, Martin, Lawrence, and Daviess County Sheriff’s Departments, Washington Police Department
Arrested and Charges:
Nathan Baker, 33
Rural Shoals, IN
- Murder (2 Counts) – Level 1 Felony
Deceased (Family notified):
Alan Sims, 82
8030 Fred Sims Road, Shoals, IN
Tom Tharp, 52
8720 Cale Road, Shoals, IN
* Attached photograph is of Baker
-30-
HENSLEY
Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
