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WABASH -ÊThe first of five people accused of murdering a North Manchester man was found guilty of murder, burglary and robbery Saturday.
Jacob H. Malone Jr., 24, of Peru, was convicted of murder, robbery and burglary by a Wabash County jury Saturday. The other four defendants have not yet gone to trial.
Malone faces 45 to 65 years in prison for murder and 20 to 50 years for both robbery and burglary.
According to probable cause affidavits filed in Wabash County, Malone told friends that he used a baseball bat to hit Leodegario M. Rodriguez, 30, of North Manchester, in the head almost 30 times while he slept. Then Malone joked about the sound of Rodriguez's last breath.
Rodriguez's body was found inside his mobile home in North Manchester July 12. He died from a skull fracture after a severe blow to the back of his head.
Four others face charges in relation to the incident.
Samuel D. Sims, 22, and Harrison Shane Dickerhoff, 21, both of Peru, face murder, burglary and robbery charges.
Kristie N. West, 21, of Royal Center, and Steven Dickerhoff, 21, of Peru, were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.
Wabash County Prosecutor William Hartley Jr. said he expects plea agreements from the other four suspects.
According to probable cause affidavits, Steven Dickerhoff told police that the five suspects drove to North Manchester July 11 to rob Rodriguez because they believed Rodriguez had a lot of money.
After arriving in North Manchester and parking down the street from Rodriguez's home, Harrison Shane Dickerhoff, Sims and Malone left the car and went into Rodriguez's mobile home. The three returned to the car about half an hour later and said they got Rodriguez's money.
When police questioned West, she told them the bat used to beat Rodriguez was in a wooded area near Smith Street in Peru. A wooden bat believed to be the murder weapon was found in that area shortly after.
According to the police, $326 was taken from Rodriguez's wallet in the robbery.
