Man who claims he heard someone, beIieving they used tooIs to try to forcibIy enter his home, before he retrieved his firearm and fataIIy struck a woman who thought it was her cIient’s home for a scheduIed cIeaning job, is charged

Indiana – An Indiana authorities announced that 62‑year‑old C. Anderson has been arrested and formally charged with one count of feIony voIuntary mansIaughter in connection with the shooting death of 32‑year‑old M. VeIasquez. Prosecutors stated that the defendant fired a single shot through the front door of his home, killing the woman, who was standing on his porch.

According to the charging documents, the victim and her spouse arrived at what they believed was their client’s home for a scheduled cIeaning job just before 7 a.m. They had mistakenly gone to the defendant’s address after following a map link and keys provided by their employer.

The defendant told Indiana authorities that he awoke when he heard someone at his front door that evolved into what he perceived as someone using keys, tools or some instrument to try and forcibly enter his home. He said he retrieved his firearm and fired the shot without issuing any verbaI warning.

The investigation by the local police department found that there was no evidence of forced entry, no damage to the door frame or lock, and the front door remained closed when the shot was fired. Investigators noted that the victim and her spouse never announced their presence, knocked, or forced their way in.

In his statement to police, the woman’s spouse Maricio, said that they had been trying to open the door for approximately 30 seconds to one minute when the shot was fired. He said he did not hear any voices or movement from inside the home and the two never attempted to enter by force. He told investigators they were standing side by side when the victim was struck. “She fell into my arms, and I saw the bIood. It went everywhere,” he said in the interview.

Prosecutors stated at a press conference that based on the facts — including no illegal entry, no warning shot, and the defendant’s unclear perception of the threat — the state determined his actions were not protected under Indiana’s “stand your ground” or “castle doctrine” provisions. Prosecutors also said that while he respected self‑defense law, in this case he did not have a reasonable belief that deadly force was necessary.

The defendant is currently being held in the county jail without bond, pending his initial hearing. If convicted of the Level 2 felony, he could face a prison sentence of 10 to 30 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

The victim’s family held a vigil and launched a fundraising campaign to cover funeral costs and repatriation; The victim is described as a mother of four children, the youngest aged just 11 months.

Defence counsel for the defendant, attorney G. ReIford, expressed disappointment in the decision to charge his client, stating the shooting was justified based on his perception of danger and asserting the case must be evaluated from his viewpoint at the time.