BEDFORD — Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday, October 19, in Lawrence County Superior Court I for the trial of Shawn Hays, a 56-year-old man accused in the fatal December 2022 shooting of his father.
The proceedings mark a major milestone in the case after Hays was returned to Lawrence County custody on August 26, 2026, following a period in state mental health care. Judge John Plummer III will preside over the case, with defense attorneys Timothy Sledd and Bradley Swihart representing Hays and Prosecutor Sam Arp presenting the case for the state.
The charges stem from a December 2022 incident in which deputies from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department performed a welfare check at a home in the 500 block of Easy Street in Mitchell. Upon arrival, officers spotted Hays attempting to quickly drive away in a silver Chevrolet pickup truck.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop and observed a shotgun resting on the passenger seat next to Hays. While one officer distracted him, another retrieved the firearm, leading to a brief struggle before Hays was taken into custody.
A search of the property revealed the body of Hays’ father lying in the yard. Authorities immediately opened a homicide investigation into the death.
Investigators later highlighted a series of alarming social media posts across multiple Facebook accounts linked to Hays prior to the incident. In one post written days before the shooting, Hays expressed extreme distrust toward his father, writing that he believed his real father had been kidnapped or killed and replaced by “a robot that looks like my dad”. In the post, Hays stated he needed to confirm the individual was a robot before taking action.
Formal Charges
Hays faces a multi-count indictment in connection with the incident and his subsequent apprehension, including felony homicide, assault, weapons, and obstruction charges:
- Murder (IC 35-42-1-1(1))
- Aggravated Battery (Level 3 Felony – IC 35-42-2-1.5): Assault posing a substantial risk of death
- Reckless Homicide (Level 5 Felony – IC 35-42-1-5): Recklessly killing another human being
- Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Level 5 Felony – IC 35-42-2-1.3(a)(1))
- Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon (Level 5 Felony – IC 35-42-2-1(c)(1))
- Abuse of a Corpse (Level 6 Felony – IC 35-45-11-2(1)): Mutilating a corpse
- Criminal Recklessness (Level 6 Felony – IC 35-42-2-2(a)): Committed with a deadly weapon
- Pointing a Firearm at Another (Level 6 Felony – IC 35-47-4-3(b))
- Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony – IC 35-44.1-2-2(a)(3)): Altering, damaging, or removing evidence/records
- Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A Misdemeanor – IC 35-44.1-3-1(a)(1)): Knowingly or intentionally forcibly resisting or obstructing law enforcement
Following his arrest, Hays underwent an Incompetent to Stand Trial (ICST) evaluation—a court-ordered clinical assessment by qualified mental health professionals to determine whether a defendant understands legal proceedings and can assist in their own defense. During a competency hearing where testimony was heard and witnesses were sworn, Judge Plummer determined Hays was incompetent to stand trial and ordered him into state mental health care for competency restoration.
After receiving treatment and being restored to competency, Hays was transferred back to Lawrence County custody to face judicial proceedings. Following a final pretrial conference and motions hearing held on September 22, the court set a multi-day trial session scheduled to run through October 23.
