FISHERS, Ind. — Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a man accused of fatally shooting his wife at a gas station in Fishers in June.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Greg Garrison announced Wednesday he determined that filing the death penalty in the case against 32-year-old Joshua Farmer, of Noblesville, was appropriate.
"It was my intention to encourage an in-depth investigation by Hamilton County police agencies, and that has been accomplished," Garrison wrote.
Garrison filed formal charges of murder, criminal recklessness, stalking and unlawful carrying of a handgun against Joshua in July. He is accused of killing Kaylah Ann Farmer, who was the mother of his three children.
On June 28, police responded to a report of a person shot in the parking lot of the Speedway gas station near 116th Street and Allisonville Road around 5:30 p.m.
A woman, later identified as Kaylah, was found dead inside a maroon van at the gas station.
A witness told 13News a man leaning out of the passenger window of a Kia Soul was seen firing at least 10 shots at the van. Another nearby witness told police they believed they "heard a total of 30 to 40 total shots fired" at the gas station.
According to a probable cause affidavit for Joshua's arrest, video footage from the gas station analyzed by police led them to believe Joshua attacked Kaylah from three different locations — the front passenger door, the front bumper, and the front driver’s door — just after she pulled up to a gas pump.
Police believe Joshua used someone else's Kia Soul to drive to the gas station and then ambushed Kaylah there, according to court documents.
An autopsy report noted detectives found more than 15 gunshot wounds on Kaylah's body and removed more than 25 bullet fragments from her body.
"This week, our community experienced a tragedy with the murder of Kaylah Ann Farmer. Kaylah was the mother of three children, a daughter, and friend to many. We want to extend our sincere condolences to Kaylah’s family and friends. Our agency will continue to advocate for Kaylah and work closely with the Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to ensure justice is served for her," Chief of Police Ed Gebhart said in a statement.
Police said Joshua was taken into custody without incident June 29,and had a history of domestic abuse against Kaylah. The court documents allege Kaylah was known to always wear makeup, or keep makeup with her, in order to cover up bruises from Joshua.
On June 5, an arrest warrant was reportedly issued for Joshua, who at that point faced charges including criminal confinement, intimidation, strangulation, pointing a firearm, domestic battery and interference reporting a crime. A no-contact order was issued June 6, and police accused Farmer of "actively evading" law enforcement.
It was noted by officials in the probable cause affidavit that because of those pending charges from Noblesville Police Department, Farmer should not have been "in possession of a firearm."
On June 30, Joshua appeared before a Hamilton County magistrate from jail via Zoom on previous domestic violence charges, which stemmed from an incident on May 21 involving Kaylah.
According to court documents, Kaylah told an officer Joshua "punched her five times in the head" and "reported being choked." A child who witnessed the incident also told police they saw Joshua ripping her clothes off during the incident. The child told police Joshua held a gun to their head and used the end of the barrel to push their head down.
The child told an officer Joshua made the child and Kaylah sit facing each other. Joshua allegedly held a gun to Kaylah's head. The child told police Joshua then "asked mom to choose between herself or (the child)."
Kaylah also said she was "hit across the back with a bat a couple of times."
The juvenile also told police "Kaylah has attempted to call police, but the accused (Joshua) had taken her phone from her."
Kaylah told police Joshua was discharged from the military in 2011 for a similar situation.
In court June 30, the state requested a 72-hour hold on additional charges. The judge set bond at $100,000, but said Joshua won't be able to bond out because of the new charges he faces.
Joshua faces the following charges:
- One count of murder
- One count of stalking while armed with a deadly weapon
- One count of unlawful carrying of a handgun
- Three counts of criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon
Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.