Indianapolis man found guilty of 2021 triple homicide that fueled serial killer rumors

INDIANAPOLIS — A Marion County trial ended in a guilty verdict for an Indianapolis man accused of carrying out a 2021 triple homicide when he was 16 years old, according to prosecutors.

Friday, a jury ruled Caden Smith guilty of three counts of murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of robbery and multiple other gun and drug-related charges following a five-day trial. A sentencing date has not been scheduled in online court records.

The charges stem from the October 2021 deaths of Joseph Thomas, 18, Michael James, 22, and Abdulla Mubarak, 17 – all of whom were found by an Indianapolis officer working security on a grassy path near the 4400 block of South Meridian Street near I-465. The trio died from gunshot wounds.

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The killings fueled rumors of a serial killer in the city, which police pointedly debunked.

Police arrested Smith weeks later using witness interviews and phone records, determining he brought the three victims to the fields to show them how a Glock switch works.

The subsequent case in the courtroom soon was marked with setbacks, particularly after a judge ruled the warrant used to carry out Smith’s arrest may have been unconstitutional and allowed Smith to be released. The teen landed back in jail soon later on marijuana possession charges.

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The ruling resulted in multiple delays until the jury trial began Aug. 19.

“It was a long and challenging road for these families, but thanks to the steadfast commitment of the investigators, deputy prosecutors, and the multitude of agencies, justice has been secured for Abdullah, Joseph, Michael, and their families,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a prepared statement.

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis man found guilty of 2021 triple homicide that fueled serial killer rumors