Demarcus Davis and Roger Rodriguez Sentenced to a Combined 196 Years for the June 27, 2023, Shooting Death of Timothy Kates

February 12, 2025

On February 12, 2025, Judge Angela Warner Sims sentenced Demarcus Davis and Roger Rodriguez to a combined 196 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction for the June 27, 2023, shooting death of Timothy Kates. A Madison County Circuit Court 1 jury found Demarcus Davis and Roger Rodriguez guilty of Murder, a felony, Felony Murder, a felony, and Armed Robbery, a Level 3 felony, in a joint trial concluding on January 10, 2025. Following the jury's verdict, both Davis and Rodriguez admitted to being Habitual Offenders. 

 

At sentencing, the State presented evidence from Facebook messages which were inadmissible at trial that in the months prior to the murder, Davis and Rodriguez were engaged in purchasing and selling various kinds of narcotics and several firearms. Timiah Kates, the daughter of Timothy Kates, delivered a statement regarding her father, his positive impact on his family and the people around him, as well what the loss has meant for her and her younger siblings.

 

Judge Sims imposed a maximum sentence for Murder of 65 years and a maximum sentence of 16 years for Armed Robbery to be served consecutively for both Davis and Rodriguez. Each Murder conviction was enhanced by an additional 15 years due to their criminal history as Habitual Offenders for a total of 96 years each for both Davis and Rodriguez, all to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. Demarcus Davis received an additional sanction for a violation on an existing case of an additional 4 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction for a total sentence of 100 years. 

 

At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Haley and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Hanna. The case was investigated by Detective Travis Thompson of the Anderson Police Department. Demarcus Davis was represented by Neal Zilliak and Roger Rodriguez was represented by Bryan Williams.

Madison County Prosecutor's Office News

July 18, 2025
On July 18, 2025, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Norman Anderson (64 of Anderson) to forty-five (45) years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. Anderson was convicted last month following a jury trial for Dealing in Cocaine, a Level 2 felony, and the Habitual Offender Enhancement. Anderson received a sentence of twenty-seven (27) years for Dealing in Cocaine enhanced by an additional eighteen (18) years due to his habitual criminal history. At trial, the State’s case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Matt Savage and Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Officer Nathan Smith of the Anderson Police Department.
July 18, 2025
On July 17, 2025, a Madison County Circuit Court 1 jury found Wade Turner Jackson, Jr., (36 of Anderson) guilty of eleven (11) counts following a three-day jury trial. Jackson was found guilty of the following offenses: 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. Judge Angela Warner Sims set Jackson’s sentencing for August 18, 2025, at 9:00 am, where he faces a possible sentence of twelve (12) to forty-two (42) years. 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.
July 17, 2025
On July 17, 2025, a Madison County Circuit Court 3 jury found Joseph Martin Jones (59 of Anderson) guilty of Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony, and Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony, following a two-day jury trial. Judge Andrew Hopper set sentencing for Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 8:30 am, where Jones faces a possible sentence of ten (10) to thirty (30) years. At trial, the State’s case was presented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Gina Koorsen and Jack Slay. The case was investigated by Deputy LeeAnn Dwiggins of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and other members of the Madison County Drug Task Force. The jury deliberated for 44 minutes.
July 14, 2025
On July 9, 2025, Judge Andrew Hopper sentenced Robert Hendricks to forty seven (47) years, with 40 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction and 7 years on probation. Earlier on June 6, 2025, on the eve of trial, Hendricks pleaded guilty to three counts of Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 2 felony; four counts of Dealing in Cocaine, a Level 2 felony; Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in a Narcotic Drug, a Level 5 felony; Conspiracy to Commit Dealing in Cocaine, a Level 5 felony; Dealing in Cocaine, a Level 3 felony; and Money Laundering, a Level 6 felony. Hendricks was also found to be an Habitual Offender. From October 2023 through April 1, 2024, the Narcotics Unit at Anderson Police Department investigated Robert Hendricks’ drug dealing operation in Anderson. Under the leadership of Sergeant Keith Gaskill, and because of the Unit’s tireless efforts and constant vigilance, detectives Lance Blossom, Tyler McKeon, Chris Frazier, LeeAnn Dwiggins, and Sierra Cunningham, were able to identify and arrest other customers and associates of Hendricks. In partnership with the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office and the Indiana State Police, the Narcotics Unit sought and was granted a lawful wiretap order to monitor Hendricks’ communications. Officers conducted multiple controlled purchases and monitored the communications of Hendricks, ultimately dismantling his distribution efforts and ending his ability to profit at the expense of the citizens of Madison County. The Narcotics Unit seized approximately 280 grams of fentanyl/ suspected fentanyl and approximately 105 grams of cocaine that they were able to attribute to Hendricks, either through direct purchases from him or from seizures from his customers during the wiretap. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecutor Jesse Miller.
July 8, 2025
James Peavler received a forty-five (45) year sentence to be served fully executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. Peavler was convicted last month following a jury trial for Burglary Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 2 felony, and Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 5 felony, as well as the Habitual Offender Enhancement. On July 8, 2025, Judge David Happe sentenced Peavler to twenty-five (25) years enhanced by an additional twenty (20) years for the Habitual Offender Enhancement for an aggregate sentence of forty-five (45) years to be served 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 Officer Brandon Boles of the Anderson Police Department.
More Posts