On October 27, 2009, in Bluffton, Indiana, a tragic confrontation unfolded involving 28-year-old female Amy R. Meyer White. A graduate of South Adams High School and the University of St. Francis, Amy was a dedicated athlete and coach who had returned to her alma mater to assist with the cross country team. At the time of her death, she was navigating a contentious divorce and custody battle with her estranged husband, Tyler White.
On the morning of the incident, Amy went to the home of Tyler’s parents, where he was residing, to exchange custody of their young son. The situation escalated in the garage when a dispute arose over parenting time.
During the argument, Tyler White shot Amy twice in the chest and abdomen with a handgun. The injuries proved fatal, and Amy was pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsy results later revealed that she was approximately 11 to 12 weeks pregnant at the time, resulting in the death of the unborn child as well. When law enforcement arrived, they found Amy's body in the garage, along with two handguns and her damaged cell phone. Tyler White was present at the scene and was taken into custody by the Wells County Sheriff's Department.
In the ensuing investigation, Tyler claimed he had acted in self-defense, alleging that Amy had pointed a gun at him first. However, investigators uncovered evidence contradicting his account. Prosecutors argued that Tyler had staged the crime scene to support his self-defense narrative. Evidence presented at trial suggested that the second gun found near Amy’s body actually belonged to a friend of Tyler's and had been planted there. Additionally, testimony indicated that Tyler had shot Amy's cell phone in an attempt to destroy audio recordings she had made of their exchange, which she intended to use in an upcoming court hearing regarding custody of their son.
Tyler White was arrested and charged with murder and feticide. The legal proceedings spanned several years, with the trial commencing in 2011. The prosecution painted a picture of a man motivated by anger over the looming divorce and custody arrangements. The jury ultimately rejected the self-defense claim, convicting Tyler White of murder. In a bifurcated phase of the trial, he was also found guilty of feticide for the death of the unborn baby. He was subsequently sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his crimes, bringing a legal conclusion to the violent loss of the young mother and coach.
