INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - The remaining two suspects in a quadruple murder case had their initial hearings before a judge Thursday afternoon at the City County Building.
You could hear a pin drop in court as Judge Sheila Carlisle read each murder charge and named the victims one at a time. Family and friends of the suspects packed the courtroom for the hearing.
As Marion County deputies escorted Desmond Banks to the initial hearing, he stayed quiet about the serious trouble he's in. His brother, Cameron Banks, didn't say a word either on his way to court. They, along with Rodreice Anderson and LeSean Watkins, all face multiple murder charges in the Feb. 5 quadruple homicide at Carriage House Apartments.
Watkins appeared in court for his initial hearing Wednesday afternoon and Anderson was in court Thursday morning.
Metro officers found the four victims, ages 19-21, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators used cameras at the apartment complex to help identify the four suspects.
Family and friends of the Banks brothers attended their initial hearing Thursday afternoon. The brothers indicated to the judge that they expected their family to help them hire independent attorneys to fight the charges. Carlisle informed the brothers she would monitor their case so that if the court didn’t hear from a private attorney, she would appoint them a public defender.
Not only was the courtroom full of spectators, but it was also full of deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff assigned additional deputies to the courtroom since they expected people who knew the victims and those who know the suspects.
The quadruple murder suspects learned during their initial hearing that, if convicted, each felony murder charge carries anywhere from 45-65 years in prison. Each of the four robbery resulting in injury charges carries 10-30 years.
During their hearings, Carlisle entered a not guilty plea for the suspects. She put on record several pretrial hearing dates and then set a date for them to go on trial. Carlisle set aside three days for the murder trial starting April 20, 2020. Murder trials rarely make the first assigned date but must be scheduled because the suspect has the right to a speedy trial.
The judge also had the Banks brothers sign no contact orders, which involve possible witnesses in the case. Just like the initial hearing, there will be extra security on hand to help keep the peace.