Donavan Harris Convicted of Felony Murder

June 4, 2026

On June 3, 2026, a Madison County Circuit Court 1 jury found Donavan Harris (20 of Anderson) guilty of Count I: Murder, a felony; Count II: Attempted Armed Robbery, a Level 3 felony; and Count III: Criminal Confinement, a level 3 felony. Following the jury's verdict, Judge Angela Warner Sims scheduled Harris' sentencing for July 7, 2026, where he faces a maximum possible sentence of 65 years.


Harris' charges stem from the shooting death of 15-year-old Jullian D. Craig, who was killed during the commission of an attempted armed robbery on November 24, 2023.  The evidence presented at trial proved that Craig was armed with a handgun lying in the backseat of a vehicle driven by Harris, when the pair lured a subject into the vehicle with the promise of paying a debt owed.  During an altercation inside the vehicle, the victim of the attempted robbery shot and killed Craig in self-defense. 


Under the doctrine of "Felony Murder", when someone commits or attempts to commit certain serious felonies, such as robbery, and a death results during the commission of that crime, the participants can be held responsible for the death.  The law recognizes that some crimes are so inherently dangerous that those who choose to commit them should be held accountable for the foreseeable consequences thereof, including the loss of human life.


At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Jennifer Haley and Samanthan Green.  The case was investigated by Officer Travis Thompson, formerly of the Anderson Police Department, now employed by the Pendleton Police Department.

Madison County Prosecutor's Office News

October 16, 2026
On October 16, 2026, a Madison County Circuit Court 3 jury found Claud Greenlee, II (59 of Anderson) guilty of three counts of Possession of Child Pornography, two counts as Level 5 felonies, and one count as a Level 6 felony. Following the jury's verdict, Judge Andrew Hopper remanded Greenlee into the custody of the Madison County Sheriff's Department and set sentencing for November 18, 2026, at 8:30 am, where he faces a maximum sentence under Indiana law of 8.5 years. At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutor Dan Kopp. The case was investigated by Det. Tyler Mitchell of the Hamilton County Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
October 6, 2026
Following a six-day trial, a Madison County Circuit Court II jury found Rejon Smith (18 of Centralia, Illinois) guilty of the following offenses related to the February 2, 2025 shooting death of 26-year-old Dayla Swain outside of Sonny Ray's in Anderson: Count I: Murder, a Felony; Count II: Attempted Murder, a Level 1 felony; Count III: Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a Level 2 felony; Count IV: Dangerous Possession of a Firearm, a Class A misdemeanor; and Count V: Criminal Organization Activity. Following the jury's verdict in the initial phase of the trial, additional evidence was presented, and the jury also found Smith guilty of the Criminal Organization Enhancement. Judge David Happe set Smith's sentencing for November 10, 2026 at 8:30 am where he faces a maximum possible sentence of 176 years. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Tyler Piraino and Jesse Miller. The case was investigated by Det. Brett Webb and Det. Cora Garcia of the Anderson Police Department. So far, Smith is the 5th of 9 charged defendants for two separate, but related, murders:  Charged with the death of Jullian Craig: Donavan Harris (sentenced to 60 years) Charged with the death of Dayla Swain: Completed: Rashawn Darrius Samuels (sentenced to 125 years) Jo'Majze Dayshon Larry (sentenced to 100 years) Kyree M. Craver (sentenced to 90 years) Rejon Smith (sentencing scheduled for 11/10/26) Remaining: Javeayon Markeese Johnson (jury trial scheduled 1/11/27) Javeaian Michael Johnson (jury trial scheduled 1/11/27) Ja'Brawll Thomas (jury trial scheduled 11/13/26) Geno Gykarius Moffett (remains wanted on warrant)
September 18, 2026
On Friday, September 18, 2026, Judge David Happe sentenced Matthew Deprez (41 of Elwood) to an aggregate sentence of twenty (20) years with seventeen (17) years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction and three (3) years suspended to Reporting Probation. The Court also ordered Deprez to register as a sex offender for life and found Deprez to be a sexually violent predator. On August 21, 2026, a Madison County Circuit Court IV jury found Deprez guilty of two counts of Child Molest as Level 4 felonies. Under Indiana law, a Level 4 felony carries a possible sentence of 2-12 years. At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Grainne Kao and Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Det. Caitlin Morency of the Madison County Sheriff's Department.
September 11, 2026
On Friday, September 11, 2026, Judge Mark Dudley sentenced Daniel Manning (39 of Anderson) to a total sentence of fifty (50) years with forty (40) years executed at the Indiana Department of Correction and ten (10) years suspended to probation. The Court also ordered Manning to register as a sex offender for life and found Manning to be a sexually violent predator. On August 14, 2026, Manning pleaded guilty as charged pursuant to a plea agreement to two counts of Child Molesting, Level 1 felonies, two counts of Child Molesting, Level 4 felonies, two counts of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Level 4 felonies, and two counts of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, level 5 felonies. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutor Dan Kopp. The case was investigated by Det. Matt Kopp of the Anderson Police Department.
September 10, 2026
On September 9, 2026, following a two-day trial, a Madison County Circuit 4 jury found Demarcus Henning (48 of Indianapolis) guilty of Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony, and Resisting Law Enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor. Following the jury's verdict, Henning admitted to being a Habitual Offender. Judge Happe set Henning's sentencing for October 13, 2026, where he faces a sentence of 1-6 years on the underlying conviction of Possession of a Methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony, which can be enhanced by a period of 2-6 years due to Henning's criminal history for a maximum possible sentence of 12 years. At trial, the State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Tyler Piraino and Jacob Bradshaw. The case was investigated by Deputy Blake Callahan of the Madison County Sheriff's Department.
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