In the spring of 2018, the life of 35-year-old Tony A. Cline of Greenwood, Indiana, was tragically cut short in a case that shocked his local community. A husband and father of three sons, Cline was reported missing on April 24, 2018, after he failed to return home from his job as a delivery driver for a Lowe's store in south Indianapolis. For six agonizing days, his family and friends searched for him, a period of uncertainty that ended with a grim discovery.
On April 30, 2018, Cline's body was found in the bathtub of a home on the south side of Indianapolis. The Marion County Coroner's Office later confirmed that he had died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The home where Tony Cline's body was discovered belonged to his friend, Dwight Shotts. The two men were known to be fishing buddies. The investigation into Cline's disappearance led authorities to Shotts' residence after two 911 calls were made. In one of those calls, Shotts himself confessed to the killing, telling the dispatcher that he had shot a man in his bathroom a week prior and had been living with the body in his home. He also expressed suicidal intentions during the call. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, Shotts surrendered without incident and was taken into custody.
Following his arrest, Dwight Shotts was charged with the murder of Tony Cline. During the subsequent investigation and legal proceedings, the motive for the killing remained unclear. After his initial confession on the 911 call, Shotts later attempted to retract his statement. However, the evidence against him was substantial. In December 2021, a jury found Dwight Shotts guilty of the murder of Tony Cline. The trial brought to light the chilling details of the crime, including the fact that Shotts had left his friend's body in the bathtub for nearly a week before the smell prompted him to finally contact the authorities. In January 2022, Dwight Shotts was sentenced to 55 years in prison for the murder, bringing a measure of legal closure to the family of Tony Cline.
