In the news
November 7, 2025
Neighbors mobilize to aid children after fatal Whitestown shooting
WHITESTOWN — A handful of community members gathered at a local coffee shop in Whitestown this week to brainstorm ways to support the family of Maria Florinda Rios Perez, a mother of four who was shot and killed earlier this week.
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Along with making plans to help the family, the group has been circulating a petition urging the prosecutor to file charges against the homeowner, who has not yet been named by police.
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"It breaks my heart,” Tomlinson said. “I think it was senseless. I think there are so many other things that could have been done than what was done. “
Community members pictured below are working to create a toy drive for Perez's children. They are also working to raise awareness about Indiana's stand-your-ground law, which Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood says makes charging the homeowners in this case complicated.
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"There's a community looking for answers,” Matt McKee, a Whitestown resident, said. “Be transparent with your decision, whatever that decision is. Help us understand why you do or do not decide to do something, and help us bring justice to this family. "
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October 6, 2025
Nonprofit founder receives board support to place purple ribbons in parks for domestic violence awareness​
Megan Tomlinson, who said she recently founded the nonprofit Silver Lining of Hope after the 2024 death of her mother, asked the Anderson City Parks Board on Oct. 7 for permission to place purple ribbons around trees in city parks for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Tomlinson said the display, called "Paint the Town Purple," would run through October and that volunteers would remove the ribbons afterward. She said the intent was to raise awareness and provide visible reminders that people experiencing domestic violence are not alone.
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Board members asked that the ribbons be concentrated at high-volume parks rather than placed in all city parks. Chair and staff members said organizers should coordinate directly with maintenance superintendent Tom Tackett via the Geter Center; Board members also clarified that permission to place ribbons on city telephone poles would need to be approved separately by David Eakes (city/public-works contact), not the parks board.
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Tomlinson provided contact details and said she would work with staff to select park locations. The board indicated consensus support and asked staff to monitor removal after October.
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June 19, 2025
After mothers alleged murder, woman starts nonprofit to help train law enforcement
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ANDERSON --
For more than seven months, Megan Tomlinson worked to bring justice to her mother, who was reportedly murdered by her husband.
Leslie Hope Houston died on Oct. 17, 2024; her husband, John Daughtery, was charged with her murder on May 27.
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Tomlinson spent time after her mother died reviewing autopsy results (...) seeking answers.
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[Chief Deputy Prosecutor Andrew] Hanna said he supports the creation of the not-for-profit organization.
"Megan is making the best of an incredibly difficult situation to both prevent these kinds of cases from happening in the first place and to help provide training and information to law enforcement needs to solve these cases when they do occur. (...) Their work bridges the gap between policy and lived experience, between research and reform."
May 30, 2025 / 10:31 AM EDT
Docs: Anderson man charged with killing wife in domestic violence incident | FOX59
ANDERSON, Ind. –
An Anderson man has been charged after his wife reportedly died from a brain bleed resulting from alleged domestic violence.
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According to court documents, 48-year-old John Daughtery has been charged with murder in relation to an incident that occurred in October 2024. Madison County court officials are also seeking a habitual offender enhancement.
Honoring Leslie | FOX59 Reporter, Angela Ganote
If you have followed me very long you know that I don’t post a suspect and victim photo next to one another.
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Having said that, I wanted to honor Leslie Houston. Anderson police say she was murdered last October and an arrest was just made in her case yesterday.
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Below are pictures of her and her only child Megan through the years and now as an adult holding her mother’s hand in the hospital bed.
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Leslie’s husband is now charged with her murder. It is believed he strangled her.
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
An Anderson man faces murder charges accused of beating and strangling his wife to her death.
| FOX59 Reporter, Angela Ganote
Leslie Houston was found unconscious on the floor of her home by medics back in October of last year. Her husband John Daughtery claimed she had fallen.
The day before she was found dead, Leslie's daughter requested police do a welfare check on her mom. Police confirm they went to the home and they believed she was ok.
The next day Leslie was rushed to the hospital, a CT scan found a massive head injury that was not survivable. She also had horrific bruises and injuries in different stages of heeling on her feet, arms, legs, neck, and breast. A neurosurgical team found Leslie was a victim of domestic abuse and possible strangulation that was foul play.
According to the PC two weeks before Leslie died she reached out to her daughter telling her Daughtery was beating her and that she was going to leave him and file for a protective order.
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