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Last updated on Tuesday, March 1, 2016
(DUBOIS) - A trial date has been set in the murder and rape case of Kyle Popplewell.
Popplewell appeared in Dubois County Circuit Court Monday.
Popplewell is charged with felony counts of murder, two counts of rape, burglary, criminal confinement, battery resulting in bodily harm and intimidation.
According to police, 25-year-old Kyle Popplewell entered the home through a back door around 2:30 a.m. on January 10. The home is located in St. Henry in Ferdinand Township on County Road 50 West.
Police say three people were in the home sleeping; 37-year-old Jeffrey Perry and two adult women, Perry's girlfriend and his foster daughter.
Popplewell is accused of stabbing Perry to death on the couch, slashing another woman who attempted to stop him from injuring Perry and then confining another woman and raping her multiple times during a three-hour police standoff.
Circuit Judge Nathan Verkamp set the trial for Monday, June 6 at 8 a.m. The trial is expected to take a week.
Public Defender Steven Ripstra told the court that he will likely file for a change of venue or request the court seek jury members from outside the county because of pretrial publicity.
After the hearing, 50-year-old Penney Popplewell, Kyle Popplewell's mother, was in the third-floor women's bathroom of the courthouse and apparently passed out in the entryway. An ambulance and first responders were called to render medical treatment.
While firefighters and emergency medical technicians were attempting to ascertain Mrs. Popplewell's medical needs, her husband Jeff Popplewell became belligerent. He had to be escorted from the courthouse by courthouse security.
After being treated at the scene, Mrs. Popplewell refused to go to the hospital and left the courthouse.
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