In the quiet town of New Carlisle, Indiana, a grim discovery was made on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Lisa Jane Martin-Simeri, a 49-year-old female, was found shot to death in the front yard of her home on Nature View Drive. Her husband, 50-year-old Nicholas Simeri, was also found deceased inside the residence from a gunshot wound.
Initially, law enforcement treated the case as a double homicide as they began their investigation into the shocking events that had unfolded. However, the subsequent autopsy results brought a tragic clarity to the situation. The St. Joseph County coroner ruled Lisa's death a homicide, while evidence indicated that Nicholas Simeri's gunshot wound to the head was self-inflicted. This led authorities to conclude that the incident was a murder-suicide.
Lisa, born on August 22, 1960, in Louisville, Kentucky, had moved to the South Bend area in 1984 and had been a resident of New Carlisle since 2002. She was a mother to four sons and was the Director of Operations for a local Taco Bell franchise. Known for her warm smile and kindness, she was an active member of her community, volunteering at the Center for the Homeless and the St. Joseph County Fair. Friends and family remembered her as a gracious person who was deeply loved. Nicholas Simeri was the owner of Simeri's Old Town Tap, a popular local bar.
The investigation determined that Nicholas Simeri was the sole suspect in the death of his wife, Lisa Martin-Simeri. With the case being classified as a murder-suicide, the investigation was concluded as no other suspects were sought.
