In the summer of 2018, the disappearance of 35-year-old Skyler Naugle from Scottsburg, Indiana, set in motion a grim investigation that would ultimately uncover a story of betrayal and murder. Naugle was last seen on July 16, 2018, and after several days without contact, his family officially reported him missing on July 21. The search for Naugle led investigators to the Little York property of his friend, Michael Joseph Sanders.
During the investigation into Naugle's whereabouts, police
focused on Sanders as he was believed to be the last person to have seen Naugle. While searching the property on East New Cut Road, authorities made a gruesome discovery in a wooded area: a body buried in a shallow grave. Although not immediately identifiable, police suspected the remains were those of the missing man. An autopsy later confirmed the deceased was Skyler Naugle and determined his death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head.
As the investigation intensified, Michael Joseph Sanders became the primary suspect. Evidence gathered by the Indiana State Police pointed towards his involvement in Naugle's death. Investigators learned that Sanders had given conflicting stories about Naugle's disappearance. Despite numerous calls and texts between the two friends in the days leading up to his disappearance, Sanders claimed he hadn't had contact with Naugle. Further evidence, including a shovel found near the grave and other items on Sanders' property, linked him to the crime. On July 26, 2018, while the prosecutor was seeking an arrest warrant for murder, Sanders stole a car in an attempt to flee but was apprehended by police in Austin.
Michael Joseph Sanders was arrested and charged with the murder of Skyler Naugle. In October 2019, the case went to trial. After three days of testimony and evidence presentation, a jury took just over an hour to find Sanders guilty of murder. The evidence presented during the trial painted a damning picture of Sanders' efforts to conceal the crime. In November 2019, Michael Joseph Sanders was sentenced for the murder of his friend, bringing a close to the tragic case that began with a missing person report and ended with a conviction.
