Stuckey, Brenda - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Crawfordsville  - A Lafayette man is accused of murdering his former landlady with a hammer while trying to rob her in her Crawfordsville home late last month. In a news conference Wednesday morning, Crawfordsville police revealed who they believe killed Brenda N. Stuckey, 62 of 706 E Market St as well as details of the bloody crime that left friends and relatives aghast.  Rob A. Shute, 37 of Lafayette is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Montgomery Circuit Court on charges of murder robbery and two related charges, police said.  The investigation began around 8 a.m. July 26 after Stuckey’s daughter, Wenda Standefer discovered her mother had been killed.  That same morning, Standefer told police that Shute had paid her a visit around 10 p.m. the previous evening.  He reportedly told her he was trying to find a mutual friend in Crawfordsville, according to court papers.  Police said Shute, originally from Crawfordsville knew the family and had previously rented an apartment from Stucky. Standefer said Shute left her home around 10:15 p.m. Standefer lives 3 ½ blocks from her mother’s home.  After the discovery of the body the next morning, neighbors told police they saw a red sports car parked near her residence the previous evening and a white male of medium build standing outside the vehicle at approximately 10:20 p.m.  Armed with that information, Crawfordsville police contacted Lafayette police for help locating Shute, believed to live in Lafayette. Just after noon, LPD investigators checked two addresses, talking with a resident at one of them. They next went to 1005 Archway Drive where they found a red Dodge Daytonna parked in the street and Shute inside the residence.  The place on the Dodge turned out to be stolen at which point Shute was brought into LPD headquarters for questioning. He was arrested on suspicion of received stolen property and booked into jail at 11:30. Crawfordsville police interviewed Shute that day. They said that when they first interviewed Shute, he denied involvement in Stuckey’s death.  In a second interview two days later, Police said Shute admitted the crime. He said he went to Stuckey’s house, armed with a hammer concealed in his pants and knocked on Stuckey’s door. After she let him in, he demanded money. When she refused, he struck her in the head multiple times with the hammer, according to court documents. Shute also told police where to locate the victim’s purse, her cell phone and the weapon, according to court documents. At Wednesday’s press conference, the revelation that a hammer was used to kill Stuckey elicited an audible gasp from her friends who were in the audience at the news conference. Family members did not attend.  “I’m very angry,” said Roberta Lashby, a friend of Stuckey from Crawfordsville.  “She had been so good to give him a place to live. And then for him to turn around and do this.  I think it’s the most horrible thing that could happen.”  Shute has a criminal history, including convictions in 1995 for burglary and in 2001 for dealing cocaine both in Montgomery County, according to the Indiana Dept of Corrections.  He also has past charges in Tippecanoe County, including theft and battery. Along with the theft charge, the Tippecanoe Co Prosecutor’s Office has filed intent to classify Shute as a habitual  offender. But those charges may have to await disposition of the case in Montgomery.  Shute was transferred from Tipp to Mont Co around 5 p.m. Wednesday. He is due in Montgomery Circuit Court this afternoon according to Sheriff Luther Blanton. Crawfordsville Police Chief Kurt Knecht thanks the public for providing tips and credited the investigating officers for their work in making an arrest in the homicide.  In attempting to reach Standefer for comment Wed the Journal & Courier was told the family had no comment at the current time – Justin Mack and David Smith