SPENCER — An Owen County jury has found Quentin Porter Jr. guilty of murder in the 2024 shooting death of 23-year-old Malik Sims, concluding a seven-day trial on July 29, 2026.
Along with the murder conviction, the jury found Porter guilty of felony auto theft, felony identity deception, and two misdemeanor counts of theft.
The Crime and Discovery
The case began on July 15, 2024, when the body of Malik Sims, a Bloomington resident, was discovered in a field along Stephenson Road in rural Owen County, near the Monroe County line. Investigators noted that a black plastic bag had been placed over Sims’ head. An autopsy confirmed he died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Sims had been reported missing by loved ones after he failed to respond to messages. A close friend used “Find My iPhone” location-sharing software to track Sims’ phone, ultimately leading him to the crime scene, where he alerted law enforcement.
Court documents revealed that Sims was last seen leaving his Bloomington apartment with Porter on July 14, 2024. Shortly before his disappearance, Sims sent a Snapchat message to his girlfriend stating, “QP got me going through some bullst,” referencing Porter by his nickname.
Investigators pieced together the case using phone location data, witness statements, and physical evidence linking Porter to Sims’ stolen vehicle:
- Stolen Vehicle Recovery: License plate readers and traffic cameras captured Sims’ vehicle traveling from Bloomington to Indianapolis on the night of July 14. Police later located the car parked outside Porter’s grandmother’s house on the northeast side of Indianapolis.
- Attempted Cover-Up: A search of Sims’ car revealed significant amounts of blood inside. Detectives found evidence of an attempted cleanup, including bleach residue, spray-painted interior sections, and newly installed seat covers meant to conceal bloodstains.
- Paper Trail: Inside the car, investigators discovered a receipt from an auto parts store in Indianapolis for seat covers and duct tape. Surveillance footage showed Porter making the purchase, and the transaction was tied to a payment made to a towing service to move the car.
Following the multi-agency investigation involving the Owen County Sheriff’s Office, Bloomington Police Department, and Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Porter was taken into custody.
Porter faces a statutory minimum sentence of 45 years in state prison for the murder conviction. His formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in Owen County Circuit Court.
