In Boone County, Indiana, a tragic case is unfolding as a judge has set bail at $25,000 for an Indiana man accused of mistakenly killing a house cleaner who arrived at his residence in error. The judge also mandated that the accused, Curt Andersen, surrender his passport.
Curt Andersen, a resident of Whitestown, faces charges of voluntary manslaughter following the death of Maria Florinda Rios Perez De Velasquez, a 32-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, on November 5. Prosecutors filed these charges on Monday, raising questions about the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.
During his initial court appearance on Friday, Andersen, 62, appeared before Boone County Superior Court donned in an orange jail jumpsuit and a bulletproof vest. Judge Matthew Kincaid, in addition to setting bail, demanded Andersen relinquish his passport and scheduled a jury trial for March 30, as indicated by online court records.
Efforts to obtain comments from Andersen’s attorney, Guy Relford, known for his advocacy on gun rights, were made through voicemail and email on Friday, though no response was forthcoming. Boone County Prosecutor Kent Edwards also refrained from commenting on the ongoing case.
The court documents reveal that the unfortunate incident occurred when Rios and her husband, part of a house cleaning team, mistakenly attempted to enter Andersen’s home. They were trying to use a key provided by their company when Andersen, believing his home was being broken into, fired through the door, tragically striking Rios in the head. Her husband escaped unharmed.
Andersen reported to investigators that he acted out of fear, thinking someone was attempting a break-in. This case is likely to stir discussions around Indiana’s stand-your-ground law, which permits homeowners to use lethal force if they reasonably believe their home is being illegally entered. The outcome of this case may have significant implications for how the law is interpreted and applied in the future.
Police have said there’s no evidence Rios entered the home before she was shot. Relford, the defense attorney, has maintained that Andersen had every reason to believe his actions were justified under the law but has not elaborated publicly.
Rios’ family planned to return her body to Guatemala on Saturday. A funeral has been set for Sunday in Cabrican, a town in the southwestern region of the country.
The video in the player above is from an earlier report.
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