Indiana – An Indiana man has been sentenced to 70 years in prison for killing his mother, 45-year-old S. Hunt, and leaving her body to decompose in an abandoned house. The sentence includes an additional 10 years for a firearm enhancement. Prosecutors announced the conviction in July, and sentencing took place earlier this week.
The investigation began when a former resident of an abandoned Indiana home noticed a strong odor and went inside, finding a woman’s decomposing body on a mattress. Authorities identified the victim as Hunt, who had been fatally shot. Police later arrested her son, 30-year-old J. Wells, in Illinois and extradited him to Indiana to face charges.
Detectives discovered a small blue notebook belonging to Wells. In it, he wrote that he had done something on a Saturday that would leave his sister devastated and disgusted, referencing her by name. Handwriting analysis confirmed it was his. Investigators also learned that Hunt was homeless and often stayed in abandoned properties. A friend said she last spoke to Hunt the day of her death after an argument with her son.
Wells’ first trial ended in a mistrial in February 2025 because of a deadlocked jury. A second trial in July 2025 ended with a unanimous guilty verdict on murder and the firearm enhancement. At the sentencing hearing on September 16, 2025, a family member gave a victim impact statement describing the deep effect of the crime on Hunt’s loved ones.
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