In the early morning hours of April 7, 2019, firefighters responding to a house fire on South 31st Street in Lafayette, Indiana, discovered the body of 61-year-old Ronald Whiles in the charred home. An autopsy determined Whiles did not die in the blaze but from multiple gunshot wounds; investigators concluded the fire had been set to conceal the crime. Ronald ran a local lawn care business, Ron’s Lawns, and was described as having a kind heart.

A tenant and friend, Thomas Day, survived. Awakened by sounds he thought were firecrackers, Day encountered an intruder shooting his landlord, tackled the attacker, and was stabbed multiple times before escaping the burning house and calling 911. Ronald’s pockets were turned inside out, and police said the scene pointed toward a robbery.

Investigators focused on a former tenant, Andrew Scott Alcorns, who had been evicted by Whiles. Alcorns was located in Dayton, Ohio, after the murder; a standoff ended when he shot himself and was taken into custody. A handgun recovered there was matched to shell casings from Whiles’ home. Alcorns was charged with murder, attempted murder, arson, and aggravated battery, pleaded guilty to murder and the aggravated battery of Day, and was sentenced to 70 years in prison. Anyone who knew Ronald, Thomas, or the neighborhood and has information is asked to come forward.