In a tragic event that unfolded on June 1, 2006, 56-year-old Alberto Covarrubias was killed in his Indianapolis, Indiana, home in what became known as the Hamilton Avenue murders. Covarrubias, a native of Zacatecas, Mexico, was a maintenance supervisor for a property management company. That evening, after 10:00 p.m., Indianapolis police responded to a 911 call and discovered a horrific scene at 560 North Hamilton Avenue where seven people, including three children, had been fatally shot.
The victims were identified as Alberto Covarrubias; his wife, Emma Valdez, 46; their two sons, Alberto Jr., 11, and David, 8; Valdez's adult children, Flora Albarran, 22, and Magno Albarran, 29; and Flora's 5-year-old son, Luis Albarran. The family was ambushed in their home by assailants armed with a military-style weapon. Investigators later recovered 23 discharged 7.62x39mm cartridge casings at the scene. The motive for the brutal killings appeared to be a robbery, with the perpetrators believing there was a safe containing a large amount of cash and drugs in the house, a rumor that proved to be untrue.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of two suspects: James Stewart and Desmond Turner. Stewart was apprehended the day after the murders. A widespread manhunt was launched for Turner, who had been released from prison just six months prior. He surrendered to authorities two days later at a fast-food restaurant. Both men were subsequently charged with seven counts of murder, felony murder, criminal confinement, robbery, and burglary.
During the legal proceedings, it was alleged that the home invasion turned deadly when Magno Albarran confronted the intruders with a gun. Stewart claimed that Turner then began shooting everyone in the house. The prosecutor's office sought the death penalty for Desmond Turner, who was ultimately convicted on all counts. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 88 years.
