Man arrested in double homicide investigation
Dover Hill — Two men were found dead at a home north of Shoals and another is in custody charged with murder after a short car chase Wednesday.
On Tuesday, law enforcement officers in Martin County started searching for Tom Tharp, 52, 8720 Cale Road, Shoals, after his family reported him missing Tuesday evening.
Wednesday morning at about 9:53 a.m., Martin County Deputy Kevin McBeth was at 8030 Fred Sims Road, Shoals, looking for Tharp when he located the body of Alan Sims, 82, of that address, in a detached garage at the property.
Investigators believe that Sims suffered a single gunshot wound in what appeared to be a homicide.
After locating Sims, investigators developed information that led them to Nathan Baker, 33, of Shoals. Baker had lived on Sim’s property but had been asked to leave. Investigators were also told that Baker had been seen at the property several times within the last several days.
Investigators put out a notice to officers in the area to be on the lookout for a green 1997 Pontiac Sunfire belonging to Tharp. On Wednesday at about 2:17 p.m., Lawrence County deputies located the Pontiac traveling northbound on State Road 450.
The deputies attempted to stop the Pontiac but the driver did not stop. He led deputies on a pursuit to State Road 158 where he crashed. Officers found that Baker was the driver and he was taken into custody without further incident.
During the arrest, investigators located a shotgun in the Pontiac they believe to be the weapon used in the alleged murder.
Officers searching the residence at 8030 Fred Sims Road located Tharp in a garden on the property. His body was found about 30 yards south of the detached garage where Sims was found.
Investigators believe that Tharp also suffered a single shotgun wound.
During the course of the investigation, investigators determined they had developed sufficient probable cause to charge Baker with two counts of Level 1 felony murder. He was arrested and placed in the Martin County Jail.
Indiana State Police were assisted by Martin, Lawrence, and Daviess County Sheriff’s Departments and the Washington Police Department
