Prosecutors speak on double homicide guilty conviction

HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – Vanderburgh County prosecutors are speaking on a guilty verdict handed down in Vanderburgh County Circuit Court in the Mount Vernon Avenue double homicide in October 2023.

John Cameron Parker was convicted on two counts of murder after less than three hours of deliberation by a jury.

Parker was accused of shooting and killing Mitchell Greathouse and Michael Blankenship.

Eyewitness News was in the courtroom as the trial commenced.

According to a press release, surveillance footage picked up Parker walking towards a residence in the 2600 block of Mount Vernon Avenue at about 7:50 p.m. and leaving in a hurry at 7:51 p.m. The same footage showed a vehicle in an alley behind the residence with three individuals, a driver, a “lookout” and Parker. The driver was identified as Richard Garrett and the lookout was identified as Caden Harms.

The release said human blood was found on the vehicle’s doorhandles along with Parker and Harms burning their clothes in a grill.

Harms later admitted to Evansville Police his involvement and plead guilty to aiding in a murder. He was sentenced to 45 years.

Prosecutor Diana Moers said, “This case is a representation of excellent detective work led by the Evansville Police Department Detective Dillon Powers, which was followed up in the courtroom by Deputy Prosecutors Stan Levco and Brett Niemeier to swiftly gain a conviction for both murders in under three hours. This case underscores the absolute risk those willing to commit murder undertake in today’s Vanderburgh County. Each murder makes our community worse. Victims’ families suffer, children suffer, and we are less safe. People will not tolerate living and working in a community that is violent. No stone will be left unturned when continuing to decrease violence – and for my part- we will be ready for any battle in court to gain convictions in these cases on behalf of the victims’ families and the community at large.”

Deputy Prosecutors Stan Levco and Brett Niemeier tried the case with Defense Attorney Connor O’Daniel representing Parker. The Honorable Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Reed oversaw the case.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2024, in front of Hon. Judge Reed. Parker could face up to 65 years for each count of Murder.

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