Ross Morelock Sentenced to 75 Years for Attempted Murder of Pendleton Officer

April 15, 2025

Ross Morelock received an aggregate sentence of seventy-five (75) years to be served at the Indiana Department of Correction.  Morelock was convicted last month following a three (3) day jury trial of the Attempted Murder of Pendleton Police Officer Jerry Branson.  Judge David Happe sentenced Morelock to forty (40) years for Attempted Murder, a Level 1 felony, twelve (12) years for Possession of Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug, a Level 3 felony, and nine (9) years for Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony, with the sentences being served concurrently for a total of forty (40) years.  That sentence was enhanced by a period of 17.5 years for the Felony Firearm Enhancement and an additional 17.5 years for the Habitual Offender Enhancement for a total, aggregate sentence of seventy-five (75) years to be served at the Indiana Department of Correction. 


At trial, the State's case was presented by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Hanna and Deputy Prosecutor Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Detective Brett Webb of the Anderson Police Department.


Around 2:30 pm on May 7, 2024, Officer Jerry Branson of the Pendleton Police Department was driving on the north side of Anderson attempting to locate a driver from a recent accident that occurred on Interstate 69. Police officers employed by a municipality have law enforcement authority anywhere in the State of Indiana. See, e.g., Manley v. State, 410 N.E.2d 1338, 1340 (Ind. Ct. App. 1980). Indeed, it is often necessary for local law enforcement officers to leave town, city, or county limits during an investigation. Another officer notified Officer Branson that the driver had been located. Officer Branson was returning to Pendleton when he observed a black Mercedes sedan that matched the license plate number of a vehicle of interest from a separate Pendleton Police Department investigation from May 1, 2024. 


At 2:31 pm on May 7, 2024, Officer Jerry Branson initiated a traffic stop of the black Mercedes sedan at Broadway St. and W. School St. in Anderson, Indiana. At the time of the traffic stop, Officer Branson was wearing a distinctive uniform and was driving a clearly marked police vehicle. The vehicle pulled into the GetGo gas station at 2500 Broadway St. The traffic stop was captured on video from three separate sources: a security camera from the GetGo gas station, a dash-mounted camera on the Pendleton Police vehicle, and Officer Branson’s body-worn camera.


Officer Branson exited his police vehicle and approached the black Mercedes sedan. The vehicle was occupied by two individuals, Amelia Peters, 23, of Anderson, who was in the driver’s seat, and Ross Morelock, 39, of Anderson, who was in the front passenger seat. Both individuals were persons of interest from the May 1st investigation, although Morelock denied he had identification and provided Officer Branson with a false name and date of birth. At the time of the incident, Morelock also had three active warrants for his arrest, one in Madison County for Nonsupport of a Dependent Child, a Level 6 felony, and two warrants from Fayette County for Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 2 felony, and Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Level 4 felony. 

After confirming Peters was one of the individuals he was looking for, Officer Branson asked Peters to exit the vehicle and detained her in handcuffs. Officer Branson radioed dispatch to advise that he had a subject detained and requested additional units respond to the scene. While waiting for backup, Officer Branson remained near the driver’s side door of the vehicle with Peters to maintain visual contact of Morelock, who remained seated in the front passenger seat of the black Mercedes sedan. 


During the course of the traffic stop, Officer Branson gave three separate loud, verbal commands to Morelock to keep his hands where he could see them. When Morelock continued to make furtive movements with his hands, Officer Branson gave two additional loud, verbal commands to Morelock to place his hands on the dashboard. When Morelock again disobeyed those commands, Officer Branson drew his department-issued handgun and pointed it at Morelock just before Morelock produced a handgun and pointed it at Officer Branson. 


Officer Branson pushed Peters to the ground for her safety and attempted to discharge his department-issued handgun at Morelock, but the firearm malfunctioned, and he was unable to do. Officer Branson cleared his firearm and reengaged Morelock. A 10-second-long exchange of gunfire ensued where Officer Branson fired four rounds and Morelock fired six rounds. Morelock fired five rounds at Officer Branson, one of which grazed Officer Branson’s shoulder leaving an approximately 1-inch-long surface wound and punctured a hole through his uniform shirt. Morelock exited the passenger side door of the vehicle and placed his handgun under his chin in an upward direction and shot himself in the head.


Officer Branson was treated at Community Hospital Anderson and was released the same day. Morelock was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Indianapolis where and was released approximately one month later. The only injury to Morelock was a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.


On May 13, 2024, the Madison County Prosecutor's Office determined Officer Branson's use of force was justified. 


A jury trial was conducted between March 10-13th. Following twenty minutes of deliberation, a Madison County Circuit Court 4 jury found Ross Morelock guilty of Attempted Murder, a Level 1 felony, Possession of Cocaine or a Narcotic Drug, a Level 3 felony, and Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony


Madison County Prosecutor's Office News

Tremmeric Love Sentenced to 38 Years for January 2025 Shooting Spree

March 25, 2026
On March 24, 2026, Judge David Happe sentenced Tremmeric Love (23 of Anderson) to 38 years for a January 2025 shooting spree which left one person injured. Judge Happe ordered 30 years of the sentence to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction followed by 8 years of probation. On February 17, 2026, Love pleaded guilty to the following offenses: Count I: Aggravated Battery, a Level 3 felony; Count II: Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 5 felony; C ount III: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 felony; Count IV: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 5 felony; Count V: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 felony; Count VI: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 felony; Count VII: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 felony; Count VIII: Criminal Recklessness, a Level 6 felony; Count IX: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony; and Count X: Firearm Enhancement. An investigation conducted by the Anderson Police Department revealed the following information which led to Love's charges in this case: On January 13, 2025, Love was released from the Miami Correctional Facility to parole around 11:00 am. Within a matter of hours, Love messaged another person requesting to purchase a handgun. The following day, January 14, 2025, around 8:15 pm, while driving on 38th Street in Anderson, Love fired at least 8 rounds from a handgun at a passing vehicle, which was occupied by two juvenile males unknown to Love, striking one male juvenile once in the abdomen. Police were dispatched to the scene and the victim was transported to the hospital where he received treatment and has since made a full recovery. This incident serves as the basis for Counts I-III, VIII, and X. Around 9:15 pm on the same day, surveillance footage from multiple businesses around the intersection of Nichol and Madison Ave. show the vehicle in which Love was driving slow down and fire 4-5 rounds at a person walking in a field across from the Milk Barn gas station. The victim never reported this incident and remains unidentified. This incident serves as the basis for Count IV. Approximately 10 minutes later, Love returns to the same intersection and fires 8-9 rounds at a vehicle parked at a gas pump which caused two male occupants of the vehicle to flee however neither were injured. Again, these persons were unknown to Love. This incident serves as the bases for Counts V-VII. On January 15, 2025, the Anderson Police Department determined the likely identity of the shooter as Tremmeric Love and obtained and executed a series of search warrants. The Anderson Police Department located Love at a residence on Chesterfield Drive where he was found in possession of a Ruger Security 9 mm handgun. Laboratory testing later confirmed the firearm matched the ballistics from the three separate shooting incidents on January 14, 2025. Possession of the firearm served as the basis for Count IX. Tremmeric Love is considered a Serious Violent Felon under Indiana law due to a 2023 conviction for Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 5 felony, for which he was released from prison the day before his January 2025 shooting spree. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutor Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Det. Nolan Schaefer of the Anderson Police Department.

Demarcus Davis and Roger Rodriguez's Convictions for the June 2023 Murder of Timothy Kates Affirmed on Appeal

March 23, 2026
On March 18, 2026, the Indiana Court of Appeals handed down two decisions affirming the convictions and sentences of Demarcus Davis and Roger Rodriguez for the 2023 Murder of Timothy Kates. Davis and Rodriguez were both convicted of Murder, a felony, Felony Murder, a felony, and Armed Robbery, a Level 3 felony, following a joint trial in Madison County Circuit Court 1 which concluded on January 10, 2025. Following the trial, 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. On appeal, Davis and Rodriguez advanced several different arguments why their convictions should be reversed or their sentences reduced. In all instances, the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected their arguments and affirmed their convictions and their sentences.

Jeramie Murdock Setenced to 33 Years for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon and other Offenses

March 23, 2026
On March 23, 2026, Judge Angela Warner Sims sentenced Jeramie Wayne Murdock (53 of Anderson) to thirty-three (33) years in the Indiana Department of Correction following his conviction on multiple felony charges involving firearms and methamphetamine. On February 12, 2026, a Madison County Circuit Court I jury found Murdock guilty of two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, both Level 4 felonies, as well as Possession of Methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony, and Possession of Paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor. The Court imposed consecutive sentences of ten (10) years on each firearm count and enhanced the sentence by an additional thirteen (13) years due to Murdock’s habitual offender status, resulting in a total sentence of thirty-three (33) years. The convictions stem from a June 1, 2022, incident in which officers with the Anderson Police Department located Murdock, who was wanted on two warrants, attempting to hide in a camper on a property on Mounds Road. After taking Murdock into custody, officers recovered two firearms, methamphetamine, and a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine from inside the camper. One firearm and the pipe were found in the bed where Murdock had been hiding. A second firearm was located on the chair of the dining table near the foot of the bed, and methamphetamine was found on a nearby counter. Subsequent forensic testing confirmed the presence of Murdock’s DNA on both firearms. Murdock is a serious violent felon prohibited from possessing firearms under Indiana law due to his 2012 conviction for Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony. The State’s case at trial and sentencing was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Jack Slay and Gina Koorsen. The case was investigated by Sergeant Gordon Corner of the Anderson Police Department.

Mario Campos-Ordonez Sentenced to 90 Years for Child Molesting

February 24, 2026
On February 24, 2026, Judge David Happe sentenced Mario Campos-Ordonez (34 of Anderson) to ninety (90) years executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. Judge Happe also found that Campos-Ordonez is a sexually violent predator and a credit-restricted felon so he will be required to serve at least 85% of his sentence in prison. On January 15, 2026, following a three-day trial, a Madison County Circuit Court IV jury found Campos-Ordonez guilty of the following offenses: Count I: Child Molesting, a Level 1 felony; Count II: Child Molesting, a Level 1 felony; Count III: Child Molesting, a Level 4 felony; Count IV: Child Molesting a Level 4 felony; Count V: Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Level 4 felony; and Count VI: Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Level 5 felony. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Dan Kopp and Tyler Piraino. The case was investigated by Detective Courtney Ginder of the Anderson Police Department.

John Rady Sentenced to 60 Years for Child Molesting

February 24, 2026
On February 24, 2026, Judge David Happe sentenced John Rady (63 of Elwood) to 60 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. Judge Happe also found that Rady is a sexually violent predator and will be required to register as a sex offender for life. On January 23, 2026, following a three-day trial, a Madison County Circuit Court 4 jury found Rady guilty of Count I: Child Molesting, a Level 1 felony; Count II: Child Molesting, a Level 4 felony, and Count III: Intimidation, a Level 6 felony. Judge Happe sentenced Rady to serve 48 years on Count I: Child Molesting, a Level 1 felony; 10 years on Count II: Child Molesting, a Level 4 felony; and 2 years on Count III: Intimidation, a Level 6 felony, for an aggregate sentence of 60 years to be executed at the Indiana Department of Correction. The State's case was presented by Deputy Prosecutors Tyler Piraino and Matt Savage. The case was investigated by Detective Ben Gosnell of the Elwood Police Department.
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