In the small city of Richmond, Indiana, a violent encounter tragically cut short the life of 33-year-old Nicholas Folkerth Lakes on November 12, 2022. He was discovered inside a residence on North I Street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response of emergency services, Lakes was pronounced dead at the scene. Remembered as a loving father, son, and brother, his unexpected death sent shockwaves through his community.
The investigation into the shooting
quickly painted a grim picture of a robbery gone fatally wrong. According to court documents, a man, later identified as 39-year-old Earl Juston Ray, entered the house where Lakes was present. Witnesses described the intruder as wearing a red outfit and mask, and he was reportedly demanding drugs and money. When Lakes informed him that he had nothing to give, the intruder allegedly opened fire, shooting him multiple times.
A second individual, Erica Nicole Petry, was also reported to have been at the scene, allegedly armed with a handgun and wearing a mask. The investigation revealed that Ray and Lakes had been friends prior to the deadly incident. Shortly after the homicide, Ray was taken into custody on a parole violation and has been incarcerated since. Petry, who initially evaded law enforcement, was later located and arrested by U.S. Marshals and the Richmond Police Department.
Both Earl Juston Ray and Erica Nicole Petry were subsequently charged with murder, burglary resulting in serious bodily injury, and attempted robbery. Following their arrests, they were held in the Wayne County jail without bond as the legal proceedings against them commenced, marking the next chapter in the quest for justice for Nicholas Folkerth Lakes.
