***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 23, 2014

MOORE PLEADS GUILTY BUT MENTALLY ILL IN SALEH'S DOUBLE HOMICIDE

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

Kevin Lorenzo Moore, 29, pled guilty but mentally ill on January 23, 2014 in the Elkhart Circuit Court to two counts of Murder. Prosecutors changed Moore for his involvement in the September 5, 2013 attempted robbery at Saleh’s Market, located at the corner of Middlebury Street and Madison Street in Elkhart.  During the robbery attempt Moore fatally shot 20-year old Pawan Singh and 55-year old Jagtar Singh Bhatti.  In December of 2013 Moore’s accomplice, Richard Gross, also pled guilty to two counts of Murder.  Like Gross before him, Moore pled guilty without specified terms, which means that Judge Shewmaker may impose any sentence permissible by law.  As the sentence for each count of Murder is 45-65 years of imprisonment, both individuals face up to 130 years of incarceration.

Moore informed the Court he had previously received treatment for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  A designation of guilty but mentally ill requires the Court to order the Indiana Department of Correction to evaluate and treat Moore’s mental illness, if confirmed, while in the secured custody of the Indiana Department of Correction.  Moore is scheduled to be sentenced on February 19, 2014 at 1:30 PM in the Elkhart Circuit Court.  Gross is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2014 at 1:30 PM in the Elkhart Circuit Court. 

The investigation was led by Detective Richard Brewton of the Elkhart Police Homicide Division.  Elkhart County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Francisco and Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Vicki Becker prosecuted both cases on behalf of the State of Indiana.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”