Indiana Homeowner Charged in Wrong-Address Shooting

In a case that has raised questions about self-defense laws and reasonable force, an Indiana homeowner has been charged with voluntary manslaughter following the fatal shooting of a house cleaner who arrived at the wrong address.

The Fatal Incident

Curt Andersen, 62, was taken into custody and is being held without bail following the death of Maria Florinda Rios Perez, 32, a Guatemalan immigrant and mother of four. The shooting occurred on November 5, 2025, in the Indianapolis suburb of Whitestown.

Perez and her husband, Mauricio Velásquez, were hired as house cleaners and mistakenly went to Andersen's home on Maize Lane instead of a model home further down in the neighborhood. According to police, Velásquez's cellphone contained a Google Maps link from their boss directing them to the correct location, but GPS navigation kept sending them to Andersen's address.

The couple arrived at the home, and when Andersen heard a shaking doorknob, he and his wife retreated to a "safe room" on the second floor before Andersen retrieved a black Glock 48 semiautomatic handgun from a locked box. Police reports indicate Andersen "could see two individuals outside the front door through the top and side windows."

The Prosecution's Case

Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood announced the charges against Andersen, stating that "Andersen did not have a reasonable belief that that type of force was necessary, given all the facts."

Eastwood emphasized that while Indiana has strong protections for self-defense, including "stand your ground" laws, those protections did not apply in this instance.

"It is vitally important for the citizens of Boone County to understand that our decision today in no way should be interpreted as a challenge to Indiana's stand your ground law, a person's right to self-defense," Eastwood said. "We respect those laws, believe in those laws and will uphold those laws. Based upon the particular evidence and circumstances of this case, we have determined that Curt Andersen's actions do not fall within the legal protections provided by the Indiana stand your ground law."

Eastwood described the decision to charge Andersen as "not a hard decision," highlighting that the case was "clear-cut" based on the evidence.

The Defense's Perspective

Andersen's criminal defense attorney, Guy Relford, called Perez's death "a terrible tragedy that is heartbreaking for everyone involved" but maintained that his client's actions were within the bounds of Indiana statutes.

"That law allows a person to use reasonable force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent an unlawful entry into his home," Relford said. "Contrary to the contention of the prosecutor — and without discussing the specific facts of the case — we believe Mr. Andersen had every reason to believe his actions were absolutely necessary and fully justified at the time."

Relford also argued that Andersen was being "unfairly judged" and shouldn't be convicted "based on hindsight."

Legal Context and Questions

The case has brought attention to Indiana's laws regarding self-defense and what constitutes "reasonable force." According to Indiana code, state residents have wide latitude to use "reasonable" force "to prevent serious bodily injury to the person."

"What is reasonable is vague," said Indianapolis defense attorney Courtney Benson-Kooy, who is on the executive committee of the Indiana Bar's Criminal Justice Section. "It's going to be completely up to the jury to determine whether the person actually believed that they were in fear or that [lethal] force was necessary."

The Victim's Story

Maria Florinda Rios Perez was a 32-year-old immigrant from Guatemala who left behind four children, ages 11 months to 17. According to family members, she was shot in the head and died in the arms of her husband.

"This is a tragic loss for a family who came to this country seeking opportunity," said a family spokesperson. "Maria was a hardworking mother who was simply trying to earn a living for her children."

What's Next

Andersen is scheduled to appear before a judge later this week when his attorney will request bail. The case is expected to generate significant legal debate about the boundaries of self-defense laws, particularly when no actual threat was present.

As the legal proceedings unfold, many in the community are left questioning how such a tragic mistake could lead to fatal consequences and what this means for the interpretation of self-defense laws in Indiana.