Published: April 10, 2008 11:19 pm         

Drug arrests linked to homicide

Four of the suspects held on $1 million bail

Detectives with the criminal investigations unit of the Kokomo Police Department teamed up with drug enforcement officers to arrest nine people Wednesday on warrants linked to Saturday’s homicide.

Seven of the nine face multiple charges for dealing in cocaine and four of those seven are being held on $1 million bail at the Howard County jail, Kokomo Police Capt. Brian Thompson reported Thursday.

Three of the men are from Detroit and the rest reside in Kokomo.

None of the nine were charged in the homicide, but may be linked to the shooting, the detective said.

“They are persons of interest detectives and drug force officers came up with ... people that had some contact with these girls,” Thompson said of the arrests.

“It just so happens some of them were wanted on warrants.”

One of the men, Mark Matthews, 38, resides in Meadowlawn Apartments at 2402 Baxter Road. He was riding in the back seat of the car Abby Rethlake, 18, and Morgan Vetter, 19, were in when they were shot in the apartment complex parking lot off South Goyer Road.

Rethlake died from multiple gunshot wounds. Vetter remains hospitalized, but is recovering from the shooting.

Matthews suffered minor injuries from broken glass and has been cooperating in the investigation, Thompson said.

Matthews faces three Class A felony charges for dealing in cocaine and one B felony dealing in cocaine charge. His bail is set at $1 million.

Police said one Detroit man has not been positively identified since he gave police several names including Keith Taylor, Evil and Dejuan Taylor. Investigators are awaiting results from an AFIX (Automated Fingerprinting Identification System Expanded) to determine his real name.

Police have said the homicide was drug related, but would not give additional details of the investigation.

The suspects were arrested between 7 and 11:30 p.m. Wednesday either in traffic stops or at area residences.

Two of the men, Keland Brown and Kristopher Weathers, both of Detroit, were already being held at the Howard County jail on other charges.

Rethlake and Vetter were shot multiple times by a black man, who fled in an older-model, black, two-door car, Thompson reported.

Anyone having information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Kokomo Police Hotline at (765) 456-7017, or you may qualify for a cash reward by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS with your anonymous tip.

Mike Fletcher may be reached at (765) 454-8565 or via e-mail at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com





The following were arrested on warrants:

• Antonio Smith, 30, of 3650 S. 350 W., Kokomo two counts dealing cocaine, $50,000 bail.

• Trent Brown, 21, 821 S. Locke St., three counts dealing cocaine and one count of theft, $75,000 bail.

• Devaughn Thompson, 31, 905 S. Bell St., dealing cocaine, $75,000 bail.

• Mark Matthews, 38, 2204 Baxter Road, four counts dealing cocaine, $1,000,000 bail.

• John Doe AKA “Evil”, 25, Detroit, dealing cocaine, $1,000,000 bail.

• Keland Brown, 24, Detroit, Mich., four counts of dealing cocaine, $1,000,000 bail.

• Kristopher Weathers, 22, Detroit Mich., three counts dealing cocaine, $1,000,000 bail.

Also arrested was Jaimee Meers, 19, Kokomo, on charges of possession of marijuana, and Edward Wright, 25, of 714 E. Mulberry St., public intoxication.

All persons were transported to the Howard County Jail, and the investigation continues.

     

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