On May 16, 1941, a tragic mass violent event unfolded at a farmhouse just outside of Aurora, Indiana, claiming the lives of several family members, including thirty-three-year-old Will Robert Agrue. The disturbing scene was discovered at the rural home where the Agrue family resided, marking one of the most brutal crimes in the history of Dearborn County.
Will Agrue, a male, was found deceased along with his parents, Johnson and Nina Agrue, his younger brother Leo, and his twelve-year-old niece, Mary Elizabeth Breeden. The attack effectively wiped out a significant portion of the family in a single afternoon, sending shockwaves through the quiet community.
Investigators quickly determined that the victims had been struck by shotgun blasts. The perpetrator did not flee into obscurity but was identified as Virginius 'Dink' Carter, a thirty-eight-year-old man who was the son-in-law of the elder Agrues and the brother-in-law to Will. Carter had been married to Will's sister, Leona, and tensions within the family had reportedly escalated prior to the violence. The specific motive was rooted in domestic strife, which culminated in Carter arriving at the farm and systematically targeting his in-laws.
Law enforcement apprehended Carter shortly after the killings. He was taken into custody and faced multiple charges related to the deaths of the five family members. During the legal proceedings, the prosecution presented a case depicting a premeditated slaughter, driven by Carter's grievances against his wife's family. The brutality of the crime, particularly the murder of the young child, drew significant public attention and outrage. Carter was ultimately convicted for the murder of his niece, a charge that carried the weight of the entire tragedy in the eyes of the court.
Following his conviction, Virginius Carter was sentenced to death. He was transported to the Indiana State Prison to await his fate. Despite the horrific nature of his crimes, reports from the time indicated that his wife, Leona, remained loyal to him, visiting him weekly at the penitentiary leading up to his execution. On February 10, 1942, less than a year after the murders of Will Robert Agrue and his family, Carter was executed in the electric chair, bringing a final legal close to the devastating case.
