On a cold January day in Gary, Indiana, the life of 39-year-old April D. Bailey was violently cut short in a manner that sent shockwaves through her family. On January 13, 2016, inside her home on the 4700 block of Delaware Street, Bailey was shot in the face at point-blank range. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that the horrific act was witnessed by three of her own children and three other children who were present in the house at the time.
The investigation swiftly pointed to
one man, Kevin D. Riley Sr., who was identified as the primary suspect in Bailey's murder. Investigators learned that Riley had been involved in a relationship with Bailey, which culminated in a fatal confrontation. On the day of the murder, Riley's then-girlfriend, Marian Robertson, went to Bailey's home to confront her about the relationship. During this heated encounter, Riley emerged from a vehicle and shot Bailey.
Riley's history was marred by a pattern of violent and criminal behavior. He had a juvenile record for multiple counts of child molesting and had previously faced charges for murder and criminal deviate conduct in the death of a 10-month-old in East Chicago. Despite having served time for past offenses, he continued to break the law, including failing to register as a sex or violent offender.
During the trial for April Bailey's murder, the jury deliberated for over four hours before reaching a verdict. They found Kevin D. Riley Sr. guilty of murder, use of a firearm during the commission of a murder, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. The presiding judge, Salvador Vasquez, characterized Riley as a manipulative and violent individual who showed no remorse for his actions. Ultimately, Riley was sentenced to 91 years in prison for the murder of April D. Bailey, bringing a measure of justice to a family devastated by an act of domestic violence.
