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COLUMBIA CITY - A Pierceton woman pleaded guilty this week in Whitley Circuit Court in connection with the death of a Warsaw man.
Stephanie Smith, 27, admitted being in Whitley County on July 23 with Eugene Nowak and Donald Sundheimer, when Sundheimer, 62, was allegedly murdered by Nowak. Smith originally was charged with a Class A felony of aiding in an armed robbery, an offense punishable by a maximum of 50 years in prison. However, she pleaded guilty to assisting in a murder, a Class C felony, which carries a maximum of eight years in prison.
Sentencing in this case is set for Nov. 27.
Sundheimer's body was found Aug. 16 in a cornfield near Columbia City. He was last seen on July 23 and was reported missing by his son on July 28.
Smith led police to Sundheimer's body during the course of the investigation after initial questioning by Warsaw police.
Nowak, who is charged with murder and felony murder, is awaiting trial in the case. It is alleged that Nowak killed Sundheimer on the date that he disappeared.
Officials said Sundheimer died from blunt force trauma after allegedly being beaten in the head with a tire iron by Nowak. Police said the motive for the murder was robbery. Sundheimer's bank accounts were accessed via several area automatic teller machines and he reportedly had about $600 with him at the time of the alleged murder.
Smith told police that Nowak struck Sundheimer in the head at least six times, including three hits after Nowak allegedly dragged Sundheimer into the cornfield from the roadside.
The three had been together on July 23 in a Warsaw bar and reportedly left together en route to Fort Wayne. Sundheimer was not seen alive after that day.
Smith reportedly didn't know that the murder or robbery were going to take place, but did admit to helping get rid of Sundheimer's vehicle, which was found abandoned about seven miles from the alleged murder scene.
