Prosecuting Attorney Todd Meyer announced Tuesday that his office filed its request for imposition of the death penalty against Defendant Anthony Baumgardt. Baumgardt was charged on March 6, 2018 for the March 2, 2018 murder of Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Pickett.
Prosecutor Meyer stated: “I have given this decision considerable thought and deliberation and, after speaking with the victim’s family, presenting the case to the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council’s capital litigation committee and after meeting with members of the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, I have concluded that seeking a death sentence in this case is the right decision.” As outlined in the State’s Request for Death Sentence filed in the case, the State alleges the aggravating factor that qualifies the case for imposition of the death penalty is that the Defendant intentionally killed Deputy Pickett while Deputy Pickett was a law enforcement officer acting in the line of duty.
Prosecutor Meyer further stated: “The men and women of law enforcement put their lives on the line each and every day to keep the citizens of Boone County safe and out of harm’s way. When someone takes the life of a police officer, by intentionally killing him/her, while he/she is acting in the line of duty, then that person should have to face the ultimate penalty, which, in the State of Indiana, is a sentence of death.”
Prosecutor Meyer also said: “The events surrounding Deputy Pickett’s murder remain under investigation and I anticipate filing additional charges against others associated with Deputy Pickett’s murder in the very near future.” Meyer went on to state: “It has always been my intention to hold any and all who are in some way responsible for Deputy Pickett’s murder accountable, and every day, we are getting closer to being able to do that – but it takes time. The investigators on this case and my office have been working diligently to gather the information and evidence needed to support additional charges and, as I said, we should be in a position to file those charges very soon.” “It is also noteworthy to point out, so that the community at large does not feel threatened in any way, that the principal targets of these additional charges are currently in custody on both related and unrelated cases,” said Prosecutor Meyer.
Baumgardt is being held in the Hamilton County Jail without bond and his trial date is currently scheduled for July 31, 2018. Judge Petit will conduct an initial hearing on the State’s request for imposition of the death sentence on Friday, April 27, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. The hearing will be held on the third floor of the Boone County Courthouse in the Boone Superior Court I courtroom. Defendant Baumgardt will be transported from Hamilton County to attend the hearing on Friday.