Arrested by police were five men. They are linked to the murder of Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, at their home on Jan. 18. The event has raised grave concerns about the safety of judicial officials in varied settings across Indiana. In reply, chief justice of Indiana’s state supreme court Loretta Rush is calling on judges to be more alert.
The suspects are identified as Raylen Ferguson, Thomas Moss and Blake Smith. Moss, 43, now finds himself in deep legal waters. He currently faces charges for domestic violence, intimidation, and carrying a handgun without a license as a felon. Ferdman is set to be in court for a bail hearing this Friday. Blake Smith, 32, from Lafayette, who along with Moss, has been dubbed a habitual offender by police.
The shooting resulted in injuries to Judge Meyer’s right arm and Kimberly Meyer’s left hip. Each of the suspects has been charged with a number of felonies, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Zenada Greer, 61, of Lexington, is charged with being an accomplice to a criminal and tampering with physical evidence. At the same time, Amanda Milsap, 45, of Lafayette, was charged with bribery and obstruction of justice.
Lafayette, Lexington, and Allentown in Pennsylvania, law enforcement and troopers with the FBI and U.S. marshals are all working on the investigation with local authorities. The swift action taken by the police reflects the urgency of addressing such violent acts against members of the judiciary.
Justice Rush expressed her concern for the safety of judges following this incident:
“I worry about the safety of all our judges.” – Loretta Rush
She further emphasized the need for judges to feel secure while performing their duties:
“As you work to peacefully resolve more than 1 million cases a year, you must not only feel safe, you must also be safe. Any violence against a judge or a judge’s family is completely unacceptable.” – Loretta Rush
Judge Steven Meyer has publicly acknowledged the support he has received from friends, community members, court colleagues, and law enforcement during this difficult time. He stated:
“I want the community to know that I have strong faith in our judicial system.” – Steven Meyer
Meyer reaffirmed his belief in the judicial process despite the violence directed at him and his family.
“This horrific violence will not shake my belief in the importance of peacefully resolving disputes.” – Steven Meyer
He concluded with a statement reflecting his confidence in the judicial system:
“I remain confident that we have the best judicial system in the world, and I am proud to be a part of it.” – Steven Meyer