Brizzi Files Charges in Attempted Murder
INDIANAPOLIS--Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi today filed criminal charges against two men accused of trying to kill a confidential informant.
Both Ty Evans and Billy Neely face charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, criminal confinement and resisting law enforcement. The two men allegedly tried to kill Melinda Keedy at Evans' home May 16.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Keedy and Evans were suspects in a mal fraud and counterfeiting ring being investigated by United States Postal Inspectors. When questioned by inspectors, Keedy said Evans was going to rob the home of a person he called "Lenny," who lived in the area near Geist Reservoir. "Lenny" was a target because he supposedly had $20,000 in cash and 40-50 pounds of marijuana that Evans wanted to steal. Evans didn't rule out the possibility of killing "Lenny" if he had to. Keedy said she and Evans were to meet at a designated place and she would drive the getaway car.
Acting on the tip, the Metro Drug Unit outfitted Keedy with a hidden microphone and planned constant surveillance of her while the reported home invasion took place.
Keedy met Evans at the designated place. However, instead of going to "Lenny's" home, Evans took her back to his house, at 6611 Springer Avenue, saying he had to get his gun. Evans pulled the SUV into the garage and closed the door. Police, who had been following the pair all along, heard sounds of a fight over the hidden microphone. Fearing for Keedy's safety, police broke into the house and subdued the men. They found Keedy unconscious and not breathing on the floor of the garage. They discovered a piece of rope that was used to strangle her. They restored her breathing and she was allowed to go.
Police then looked into the SUV and found a black body bag, two bags of concrete, a shovel, a pick ax, a change of clothes and a pair of work gloves.
Keedy told police that she thought Evans was trying to get even for her alleged theft of money from him a year ago.
If convicted on all counts, Evans faces a sentence of 74 years and Neely 71 years in prison. Both are currently in the Marion County Jail, Neely under $500,000 bond, while Evans' bond was set at $1 million. Evans and Neely both have an initial court appearance scheduled for Friday, May 20, at 8:30 a.m., in Marion Criminal Court 1.
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