In the summer of 2015, the life of 18-year-old Christian Michael Orebaugh was tragically cut short in Muncie, Indiana. A recent graduate of Cowan High School, Christian was looking forward to starting at Ivy Tech Community College in the fall. Known for his love of sports, music, and spending time with his friends and family, he was a young man with a future full of promise. On the evening of July 2, 2015, Christian was at his home on West 23rd Street when intruders forced their way inside.
During the home invasion, Christian was shot once in the torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities believed the motive for the intrusion was the theft of marijuana or guns.
The investigation into the violent death of Christian Orebaugh led to a series of arrests and legal proceedings that would unfold over several years. Twelve days after the shooting, a 16-year-old from Muncie was arrested and faced a preliminary charge of murder. The case saw significant developments as more individuals were identified and charged in connection with the crime. One of the suspects, Darius Covington, then 19, was scheduled for trial in August 2017 on charges of murder and other offenses, though it was believed he was not the one who fired the fatal shot. Covington eventually pleaded guilty to a count of aiding, inducing, or causing robbery.
Justice for Christian's death saw further progress with the convictions of two other men. In 2019, Daveon Hendricks was found guilty of murder and robbery, receiving a 55-year prison sentence for his role in the deadly home invasion. Nearly six years after the incident, in June 2021, William C. Balfour III was also found guilty of murder and robbery charges. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison. In August 2022, an appellate court upheld Balfour's conviction. While several individuals have been held accountable for their involvement, authorities indicated that the investigation remained ongoing as they continued to seek others believed to have been involved in the events of that tragic night.
