Lebanon, IN – A deadly encounter outside a Whitestown home has raised major questions about how far stand-your-ground protections extend in Indiana, after prosecutors charged 62-year-old Curt Andersen with voluntary manslaughter for the shooting death of 32-year-old Maria Florinda Rios Perez De Velasquez, a house cleaner who mistakenly arrived at his doorstep on 5 November.
Authorities said Rios, a Guatemalan immigrant and mother of four, was part of a cleaning crew that went to the wrong house just before dawn. According to information first reported by the Associated Press, she was shot through the front door without warning after attempting to unlock it with work keys.
Stand-Your-Ground Law at the Center of the Case
Indiana is one of 31 states with stand-your-ground laws allowing homeowners to use deadly force if they reasonably believe someone is unlawfully entering their home. But investigators said there was no evidence of forced entry, raising doubts about whether Andersen’s actions were justified.
Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood said the decision to file charges was straightforward. He argued the law does not apply because Andersen lacked enough information to reasonably believe deadly force was necessary.
Eastwood told reporters that prosecutors intend to prove Andersen “couldn’t have reasonably believed he needed to use deadly force” based on what he observed.
What Investigators Say Happened
According to the probable cause statement, Andersen said he and his wife were asleep when a “commotion at the door” startled them. He believed someone was trying to break in using keys or tools. From the top of the stairwell, he saw two people at the door but did not speak, shout, or warn them.
He loaded his handgun, aimed toward the front door from upstairs, and fired a single shot.
“He didn’t mean for anything to happen to anybody,” the statement noted after Andersen was told he had killed Rios.
Investigators found a bullet hole in the door but no signs of forced entry, damage to the lock, or attempts to break in.
Rios’ husband, Mauricio Velasquez, said she attempted to unlock the door with cleaning-company keys for 30 seconds to a minute before the shot was fired. He did not realise she had been hit until she collapsed backward into his arms.
He said the couple did not knock, shout, or force entry and had no idea they were at the wrong home.
Statements From Both Sides
Andersen’s attorney, Guy Relford, expressed disappointment that charges were filed, posting on X that his client had every reason to believe he was protecting his home.
“Mr. Andersen’s actions must be evaluated based on the circumstances as he perceived them,” Relford wrote.
However, Andersen’s wife told investigators that he once mentioned to a neighbour that he would “shoot any intruder” who tried to enter their home.
Investigators noted that neither Andersen nor his wife went downstairs before or after the shooting.
Broader Context: Similar Cases Across the U.S.
The incident mirrors other mistaken-address shootings that have drawn national attention:
- In Missouri, 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot in 2023 after ringing the wrong doorbell.
- In New York, a homeowner was convicted in 2024 for fatally shooting a woman who mistakenly turned into his driveway.
Indiana University law professor Jody Madeira, an expert in gun rights, called the Rios case “exceptionally unusual,” noting that the law allows people to access a home’s front porch for legitimate reasons unless told otherwise.
Madeira said that fear alone does not meet the legal threshold for stand-your-ground protections.
She explained that a reasonable person might “shout a warning,” call for help, or pause to assess the situation at 7 a.m. instead of immediately resorting to gunfire.
What Comes Next
Andersen faces 10 to 30 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine if convicted. He remained in Boone County Jail awaiting his initial hearing. Prosecutors said they will pursue the case based on evidence that Andersen fired without sufficient cause and without confirming the intentions of those outside.
The death of Rios — a mother supporting her family through cleaning work — has sparked renewed discussions about when deadly force is justified and how such laws should be applied in real-world confrontations.
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