A man and a friend were found dead in his home being the first murders of 2019 in Indianapolis A tragic story unfolded in Indianapolis at the start of the new year, leaving a family and community searching for answers that remain elusive. On January 5, 2019, 28-year-old Kenneth Valentine, a Black male, was found murdered alongside his friend, Christopher Johnson, who was 27. The discovery was made inside a residence on Sharon Avenue after Johnson’s mother, unable to reach him, sent a relative to check on him.
This brutal act marked the first homicides of 2019 in the city.
Upon their arrival, police officers located Kenneth Valentine's body in the living room and, after a further search, found Christopher Johnson in the kitchen area. Those who knew Kenneth described him as a kind person with a beautiful soul and personality. The families of both men were left devastated by the sudden and violent loss of their loved ones.
In the years following the double homicide, the investigation has unfortunately grown cold. The mother of Christopher Johnson has spoken out, expressing her belief that her son and Kenneth likely knew their killer and that their trusting nature may have been taken advantage of. Despite the ongoing efforts of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the murders.
In an attempt to generate new leads, the family of Christopher Johnson announced a reward in September 2020 for any information that would lead to an arrest and conviction in the case. This is in addition to a reward offered by Crime Stoppers. The case of Kenneth Valentine and Christopher Johnson remains an unsolved tragedy, leaving their families waiting for justice and closure.
