Hearings today for murder suspects

Four Peru men and a Cass County woman accused of the murder of a North Manchester man will have their first court appearance today in Wabash County Circuit Court.

Indiana State Police and North Manchester police arrested the five Thursday.

Harrison S. Dickerhoff, 21, Samuel D. Sims, 22, and Jacob H. Malone Jr., 24, all of Peru, are charged with murder and robbery in the death of Leodegario M. Rodriguez, 30.

Kristie N. West, 21, Royal Center, and Steven Dickerhoff, 21, Peru, are charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.

State Police detective Tony Frawley said the three charged with murder entered Rodriquez’s residence, while all five drove to North Manchester together July 12, the day of the robbery.

Frawley said one of the five knew Rodriguez and had reason to think Rodriguez had money.

“He was the target. That’s what they went for, to try to get money from him,” Frawley said. He did not know precisely how much money was taken.

He said Rodriguez died of blows to the head.

Frawley said state police at Peru received a tip from an anonymous source. Frawley conducted interviews, which led to names of the suspects.

Frawley said he interviewed all five and “some implicated themselves and a couple of them are not providing information.”

All five suspects are being held without bond in the Wabash County Jail, pending hearings at 1 p.m. today. Frawley said if any of them qualify for bond, that would be set at the hearings.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Frawley at the state police post in Peru at (800) 382-0689, or North Manchester Police detective Keith Whiting at (260) 982-8555.

Danielle Rush may be reached at (765) 454-8585 or via e-mail at danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com