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Last updated on Thursday, April 9, 2015
(BEDFORD) - Taylor Flynn, who pleaded guilty to killing 43-year-old Rodney Allender, will be sentenced by Superior Court II Judge William Sleva Monday afternoon.
Flynn, with his attorney John Boren, is scheduled to appear in court at 2:30 p.m. Flynn accepted a plea agreement and plead guilty to murder, conspiracy to commit burglary and an enhancement of using a firearm in the commission of the crimes.
The maximum sentence for murder is 65 years, for conspiracy to commit burglary 10 years and with the enhancement of using a firearm 5 years can be added to the sentence.
Flynn and Austin Curtis both plead guilty to killing Allender.
A third teen, Dillon Hicks, who is represented by defense attorney Stephanie Parker, is scheduled for a jury trial on January 5, 2016 at 9 a.m.
Flynn admitted that days leading up to Allender's murder he and co-defendant 17-year-old Hicks had staked out Allender's home at 1758 Dutch Ridge Road in Heltonville on several occasions. The teens believed Allender had a large amount of money in safes inside the home and guns they planned to steal.
Then on February 27, 2014 Flynn dressed up like a girl and armed with rifle knocked on Allender's door. When Allender opened the door, Flynn shot Allender in the leg.
That is when co-defendant 19-year-old Austin Curtis struck Allender in the head with a baseball bat.
Both Curtis and Flynn told the judge there was a struggle and Allender was hit in the head and face.
Curtis testified during his sentencing that he struck Allender once in the legs and once in the head. Hicks, armed with an air-rifle, also hit Allender during the struggle and Flynn hit Allender in the head with the rifle butt.
According to an autopsy report, Allender died from a closed head injury and blunt force injuries.
But before Allender died, the men tied him up with duct tape and repeatedly hit and tased and used a stun gun on Allender until he gave them the combinations to his safe. They then ransacked the home, stealing money and guns.
Allender's body was found in his garage by his son and his son's girlfriend. He was lying on his side with a severe head injury and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers found Allender's home in disarray with furniture overturned, a door ripped off the hinges, a desk emptied and papers thrown around and two safes open and emptied. Police noted there was blood throughout the home.
Curtis was arrested on March 1, 2014 after being questioned by police and admitting his part of the crime. Flynn and Hicks had fled to Ironton, Ohio and were arrested the same day. They were extradited back to Lawrence County.
According to Ironton Police Chief Dan Johnson, an officer remembered seeing the white 1995 Chevrolet Beretta used in the crime during his patrols.
Chief Johnson says Flynn and Hicks fled, leading police on a car chase through parts of the city and into a
residential area, where officers stopped the pursuit after the Beretta almost hit several children.
Officers lost sight of the vehicle, but soon found it again. The teens stopped the car and then fled on foot and police found them hiding in the back of a van.
Curtis was sentenced to 55 years in prison with 10 suspended. Curtis, who was represented by Bloomington Attorney Sam Shapiro, must also provide a complete and truthful account of what happened the night Rodney Allender was murdered, including the roles of the two co-defendants - Hicks and Flynn. If he fails to cooperate, the plea agreement will be null and void and Curtis could face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
It is unclear if Hicks will be offered a plea deal or will change his plea.
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