In the quiet community of Lexington, Indiana, the life of 45-year-old Michele Brewer was brought to a tragic and violent end in March of 2016. On the evening of March 28th, deputies from the Scott County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to her residence on State Road 356, where they discovered a grim scene. Inside the home, Michele and her friend, 51-year-old Jesse 'Willy' Bowling, were found deceased, both having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The initial shock of the double homicide sent ripples of fear and grief through the community and left Michele's family desperate for answers.
The investigation into the brutal slayings would uncover a sinister plot born out of a desire to silence a witness. It was revealed that Michele Brewer was a confidential informant in a drug case against a prominent local figure, Roger D. McIntosh, a former Crothersville School Board member. With his trial looming, McIntosh orchestrated a murder-for-hire scheme to prevent Michele from testifying against him. Jesse Bowling was also slated to be a witness in a separate criminal case involving McIntosh.
After a thorough, year-long investigation, authorities made a significant breakthrough. In April 2017, three individuals were arrested in connection with the murders: Roger D. McIntosh and his cousins, Phillip McIntosh and David T. McIntosh. The subsequent legal proceedings brought the dark details of the conspiracy to light. Roger McIntosh, the mastermind behind the plot, was ultimately sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder-for-hire, in addition to a pre-existing 10-year sentence for drug-related charges.
His accomplices also faced justice for their roles in the deaths of Michele Brewer and Jesse Bowling. Phillip McIntosh entered a guilty plea to two counts of murder in July 2019 and was handed a 45-year prison sentence. In May 2018, David T. McIntosh pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated battery and received a 16-year sentence for his involvement. The convictions brought a measure of closure to the families of the victims and the community that had been shaken by the cold-blooded crime.
