The Criminal Investigations Division of the Zionsville Police Department has arrested 23-year-old James Earl Hughes of Zionsville, for the murder of Samuel T. Bennett of Zionsville. Bennett’s body was discovered near the Big-4 Rail Trail in Zionsville on Sunday, April 28, 2019 in a retention pond area. An autopsy revealed that Mr. Bennett was shot two times.Evidence collected at and in the area of the scene and through the service of 12 search warrants lead to Probable Cause that James Earl Hughes had committed the murder. Hughes was taken into custody Wednesday at a location in Indianapolis and transported to the Boone County Jail on the charge of Murder a Felony with no bail.
The Zionsville Police Department is asking that anyone with information regarding this investigation contact the department at 317-873-5967 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) or contact the Boone County Central Communication Center at 765-482-1412 (24 hours). In particular, police would like to speak with anyone who was on the Big-4 Rail Trail between the hours of 5 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, 2019.