In the late hours of a Wednesday in Elkhart, Indiana, the life of 18-year-old Dretarrius Rodgers was cut short by gunfire. On September 10, 2014, Rodgers, along with two teenage companions, 19-year-old Freddie Rhodes and 17-year-old Deante Dalton, were involved in an attempt to rob a home on Falcon Court. The plan was to steal drugs and money from the residence. However, the situation quickly escalated into violence.
During the course of the robbery, a struggle ensued over a handgun. In the chaos, Rodgers was shot multiple times. He died at the scene of the botched robbery. Another man inside the home, Norman Gary, was also shot and critically injured during the incident. The events of that night set in motion a swift law enforcement response that would soon lead to the apprehension of Rodgers' accomplices.
The day after the fatal shooting, the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department arrested Freddie Rhodes and Deante Dalton in connection with the death of Dretarrius Rodgers. Due to a provision in Indiana law, both teenagers were charged with felony murder. This law allows for a murder charge to be brought against individuals if a death occurs during the commission of a felony, such as robbery, regardless of who actually pulled the trigger. Prosecutors argued that although Rhodes and Dalton were Rodgers' co-conspirators, they were responsible for his death under the statute.
In June of 2015, a jury found both Freddie Rhodes and Deante Dalton guilty of felony murder. The defense attorneys for the two teens chose not to call any witnesses to testify. Following their conviction, the sentences were handed down in July. Freddie Rhodes received a 58-year prison sentence, while Deante Dalton was sentenced to 55 years for his role in the deadly robbery that claimed the life of their accomplice, Dretarrius Rodgers.
