In the late summer of 2015, the quiet community of Shoals, Indiana, was disturbed by the grim discovery of a double homicide. The tragic events began to unfold when the family of 52-year-old Raymond T. 'Tom' Tharp reported him missing on a Tuesday evening in August. The search for Tharp led a Martin County deputy to a property on Fred Sims Road the following morning. There, in a detached garage, the officer found the body of 82-year-old Alan Sims, the homeowner.
Investigators determined that Sims had died from a single gunshot wound.
As the investigation into Sims' death progressed, law enforcement developed information that led them to a person of interest, 33-year-old Nathan Baker of Shoals. Baker had previously resided on Sims' property but had been asked to leave. He had reportedly been seen at the residence several times in the days leading up to the discovery. Authorities then issued an alert for officers to be on the lookout for Tharp's green 1997 Pontiac Sunfire.
Later that Wednesday afternoon, deputies in neighboring Lawrence County spotted the vehicle. When they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver, later identified as Baker, fled. A pursuit ensued, which ended when the Pontiac crashed. Baker was taken into custody without further incident. Inside the vehicle, investigators found a shotgun they believe was the weapon used in the killings.
With Baker in custody, the search for the missing man came to a devastating end. Officers returned to Sims' property and found Tom Tharp's body in a garden, approximately 30 yards from the garage where Sims' body had been discovered. It is believed that Tharp also died from a single shotgun wound. Following the investigation at the scene and the evidence collected, authorities charged Nathan Baker with two counts of murder.
