Man indicted in cold case killing of retired Indiana farmer found shot to death in his home

A man imprisoned since last year has been indicted on murder and other charges in the 2012 killing of a retired farmer found shot to death in his western Indiana home, a police announced Wednesday.

A Sullivan County grand jury indicted William Ray Grimes on charges of murder, burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary in the December 2012 killing of Lowell Badger, state police said.

Badger, 85, died during a burglary at his rural home in Sullivan County, about 30 miles south of Terre Haute. Badger was found dead on the bedroom floor, and a 46-inch television and safe were taken from his home, Indiana State Police previously said.

Grimes, 38, is currently incarcerated at the Wabash Valley Correctional Center in nearby Carlisle, serving a 2023 sentence for battery, theft and illegal possession of a firearm. The Indiana Department of Corrections database lists Grimes’ earliest release date as January 2, 2053.

A phone message seeking comment was left with an attorney representing him in the case.

“This is the beginning of the criminal process,” special prosecutor Rob Roberts said in a statement. “Once again, we encourage anyone with information related to Mr. Badger’s murder to contact the Indiana State Police.”

A phone message was left for Roberts asking for details about what led investigators to Grimes and other information.

In December 2021, police investigators renewed their request for information about Badger’s murder. This came a year after police released photos showing vehicles that may have been in the area when Badger was killed. These photos were taken from security video at a gas station near Graysville, a few miles east of the Illinois state line.

As of December 2021, detectives have investigated more than 275 tips, conducted nearly 170 interviews, and searched numerous areas of land and water in the Sullivan County area as part of the investigation. The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office previously said law enforcement used planes, all-terrain vehicles, boats and divers to search the area.

A reward of approximately $30,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Badger’s death.