In the summer of 2021, a brutal act of violence in Indianapolis led to the death of 44-year-old Laura Gentry, a white female whose final moments of bravery would prove crucial in bringing her killer to justice. On the morning of July 9th, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of Medford Avenue following a report of a person shot.
There, they discovered Gentry on a back stoop, suffering from the horrific ordeal of being shot multiple times and set on fire, resulting in burns covering a significant portion of her body. Despite her critical injuries, she was able to provide investigators with a vital piece of information, identifying her attacker as a man known as 'OG Wayne.'
Gentry was rushed to a local hospital, where she fought for her life for ten days before succumbing to her severe injuries on July 19, 2021. The Marion County Coroner's Office later determined her cause of death to be a combination of thermal burns and multiple gunshot wounds. Her courageous last words, however, set in motion an investigation that would ultimately lead police to her killer.
For over a year, detectives worked to bring justice for Laura Gentry. The case saw a significant breakthrough with the arrest of 57-year-old Dwayne Wright, also known as 'OG Wayne,' on August 23, 2022. The investigation had not only Gentry's identification but also crucial forensic evidence. Wright's DNA was discovered on a burned plastic bottle containing gasoline that was found at the crime scene, directly linking him to the heinous act.
In early 2024, Dwayne Wright stood trial for the murder of Laura Gentry. After a three-day trial, a jury found him guilty. In addition to the murder charge, Wright was also convicted of being a felon carrying a handgun. On March 7, 2024, he was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his crimes, a conclusion made possible by the strength and fortitude of Laura Gentry in her final, agonizing moments.
