VINCENNES — A Vincennes man has pleaded guilty to murder in connection with the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Taylor Hendershot outside a local business this past summer.
According to court records, 32-year-old Dylan A. Smith entered a guilty plea on Monday in Knox Circuit Court, where Judge Monica Gilmore formally accepted the agreement.
The shooting occurred on August 5, 2025, outside a business on 6th Street.
According to Knox County Prosecutor Dirk Carnahan, the guilty plea was not a negotiated offer from the state. Instead, Smith, through his attorney, chose to plead guilty, waive all appeal rights, and give up any future right to seek sentence modifications in exchange for an agreed-upon 60-year sentence.
Prosecutor Carnahan confirmed that the victim’s family was consulted and supported the decision, requesting that the court accept the plea agreement.
Smith’s formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 9, 2026. Members of the Hendershot family will have the opportunity to address the court during the hearing to provide victim impact statements.
