An Indianapolis man found guilty of carrying out a 2021 triple killing when he was 16 years old has been ordered to spend nearly two centuries in prison.
Friday, a judge ordered Caden Smith to 189 years in the Indiana Department of Correction after he was previously found guilty of three counts of murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of robbery and multiple gun and drug-related charges in the case that fueled rumors about a serial killer.
“Once again, the sale of unregulated firearms led to the tragic deaths of three innocent people,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a prepared statement. “This significant sentence is a testament to our commitment to holding violent individuals accountable for their actions. We are grateful for today’s announcement and thanks to the dedication of our deputy prosecutors and the investigators, justice was served for Abdullah, Joseph, Michael, and their families.”
The investigation began in October 2021 when an Indianapolis officer working off-duty security found the bodies of 18-year-old Joseph Thomas, 22-year-old Michael James and 17-year-old Abdulla Mubarak near a grassy path along the 4400 block of South Meridian Street . The trio died from gunshot wounds.