Indiana Homeowner Charged with Voluntary Manslaughter in Fatal Shooting of House Cleaner

An Indiana homeowner has been charged with voluntary manslaughter following the fatal shooting of a house cleaner who mistakenly arrived at his residence. On November 5, 2025, in Whitestown, Indiana, 32-year-old Maria Florinda Rios Perez De Velasquez, a Guatemalan immigrant and mother of four, was shot and killed on the front porch of 62-year-old Curt Andersen's home. Rios, part of a cleaning crew, had gone to the wrong address and was attempting to unlock the door when Andersen fired a shot through the door without warning.

Rios' husband, Mauricio Velasquez, who was with her at the time, stated that they had been trying to open the door for 30 seconds to a minute before the shot was fired. He noted that they never heard any voices from inside or saw any movement, and they did not knock, bang on the door, or use force to enter the home.

Indiana's stand-your-ground law permits homeowners to use deadly force to stop someone they believe is trying to unlawfully enter their dwelling. However, Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood stated that stand-your-ground protections do not apply in this case because Andersen lacked sufficient information to reasonably believe his actions were justified.

Andersen's attorney, Guy Relford, expressed disappointment with the charges, asserting that Andersen believed his actions were justified under the stand-your-ground law.

This incident has drawn comparisons to similar cases, such as the 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl in Missouri, where an 86-year-old man shot a teenager who mistakenly came to his door. In that case, the shooter was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.