Arielle Johnson Sentenced to 70 Years for Dealing Resulting in Death

November 3, 2023

On March 18, 2023 the Anderson Police Department responded to an address in Anderson where Cody Pidcock was found deceased from an overdose. Several weeks later on April 4, 2023, the Anderson Police Department responded to a different address in Anderson where Jennifer Ost was discovered deceased from an overdose. Autopsy results from Pidcock and Ost revealed a combination of substances including Fentanyl and Norfentanyl which caused their overdose deaths.  


A months-long investigation by the Madison County Drug Task Force revealed Arielle Johnson was the source of the narcotics which caused the deaths of both Pidcock and Ost.  The Madison County Prosecutor's Office charged Arielle Johnson with Count I: Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony; Count II: Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, a Level 1 felony (for the death of Cody Pidcock); Count III Dealing in a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, a Level 1 felony (for the death of Jennifer Ost); and Count IV: Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 5 felony. 


On October 6, 2023, Johnson pleaded guilty to Count I, Count II, and Count III pursuant to a plea agreement which dismissed Count IV, Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 5 felony, and limited Johnson's executed sentence to 40 years.  On November 3, 2023, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Arielle Johnson to 70 years following her conviction of two counts of Dealing Resulting in Death, as Level 1 felonies, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony.  Judge Dudley ordered 40 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction with 30 years suspended.


The State's case was presented Deputy Prosecutor Jesse Miller.  The case was investigated by Officer Lance Blossom of the Madison County Drug Task Force.




Madison County Prosecutor's Office News

October 22, 2025
On October 22, 2025, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Courtney Radford (25 of Indianapolis) to a total of 77.5 years for the 2023 murder of Jared Wininger. Radford was convicted after a four-day jury trial of Murder, a felony; Felony Murder, a felony; Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury, a Level 2 felony; Burglary, a Level 1 felony; Resisting Law Enforcement, a Level 6 felony; and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony. Radford was sentenced to the maximum sentence for Murder, 65 years, which merged with the remaining counts for the purposes of sentencing, and 2.5 years for Resisting Law Enforcement, enhanced by an additional 10 years for the Felony Firearm Enhancement for a total, aggregate sentence of 77.5 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Jennifer Haley and Steve Hunt. The case was investigated by Detective Scott Bertram and Officer Jerry Branson of the Pendleton Police Department.
September 26, 2025
On September 25, 2025, following a four-day jury trial, a Madison County Circuit Court 6 jury found Courtney Radford (25 of Indianapolis) guilty of the 2023 murder of Jared Wininger as well as Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury, a Level 2 felony; Burglary, a Level 1 felony; Resisting Law Enforcement, a Level 6 felony; and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony. Following the jury's verdict, Radford pleaded guilty to the Felony Firearm Enhancement. Judge Mark Dudley set Radford's sentencing for October 17, 2025, where he faces a sentence of 50-115 years. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Jennifer Haley and Steve Hunt. The case was investigated by Detective Scott Bertram of the Pendleton Police Department.
September 23, 2025
On September 23, 2025, Judge David Happe sentenced Jeremy Hinson (49 of Anderson) to 55 years for the 2024 murder of his wife, Michela Hinson, enhanced by an additional 20 years for the Felony Firearm Enhancement for a total sentence of 75 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Grainne Kao and Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Detective Jim Sundheimer of the Madison County Sheriff's Department.
August 21, 2025
On August 21, 2025, a Madison County Circuit Court 4 jury found Jeremy Hinson (49 of Anderson) guilty of the 2024 murder of his wife, Michela Hinson. The jury also found Hinson guilty of the Felony Firearm Enhancement. Judge David Happe set Hinson's sentencing for September 28, 2025, where he faces a sentence of 50-65 years. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Grainne Kao and Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Detective Jim Sundheimer of the Madison County Sheriff's Department.
August 18, 2025
On Monday, August 18, 2025, Judge Angela Warners Sims sentenced Wade Turner Jackson, Jr., (36 of Anderson) to thirty (30) years with twenty-five (25) years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction and five (5) years suspended to formal probation. Jackson, Jr. was convicted following a three-day jury trial last month of eleven (11) counts: Count I: Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 felony; Count II: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Class A misdemeanor; Count III: Invasion of Privacy, a Class A misdemeanor; Count IV: Criminal Mischief, a Class B misdemeanor; Count V: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Level 5 felony; Count VI: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 felony; Count VII: Intimidation, a Level 5 felony; Count VIII: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Class A misdemeanor; Count IX: Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, a Level 5 felony; Count X: Possession of Cocaine, a Level 6 felony; Count XI: Dealing in a Schedule I Controlled Substance, a Level 2 felony. At trial, the State’s case was presented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Jennifer Haley and Grainne Kao. The case was investigated by Det. Brett Webb of the Anderson Police Department.
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