Kentucky man charged in woman's murder
July 24, 2020By The Associated Press
CROWN POINT — A Kentucky man has been charged with murder in the 2015 disappearance of a pregnant woman who vanished after leaving a northwestern Indiana college campus.
A Lake County judge entered not guilty pleas on behalf of Derron Fuller, 25, during a Tuesday hearing. Prosecutors allege he killed his girlfriend, Rochelle Thomas Stubblefield, 20, in November 2015.
Stubblefield's body has never been found, according to court records. Prosecutors said she was pregnant with Fuller's child.
Fuller, of Fort Knox, Kentucky, faces one count of murder in Stubblefield's death, a second murder count in the death of her fetus and one count of obstruction of justice, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.
Stubblefield was last seen by friends at Calumet College in Hammond on the night of Nov. 10, 2015. Her mother reported her missing two days later.
Fuller’s attorney, Scott King, said he found it odd that police investigated the case nearly five years ago and had not gathered any significant new evidence before charges were filed.
But court records show that investigators re-interviewed a woman in August 2019 and she gave a formal statement that Fuller had admitted to her that he killed Stubblefield after she picked him up in November 2015 from the area where Stubblefield’s car was found abandoned in Gary.
That woman told authorities Fuller admitted to her that he choked Stubblefield to death, court records allege.
Two other witnesses told police Fuller told one of them that he didn’t want to pay child support, so he choked Stubblefield and stabbed her in the temple. Both witnesses said Fuller told them he buried her body near a Gary elementary school.
More on DuboisCountyHerald.com
-
Peace on the Water
As Kyle Gudorf and Lance Reynolds searched for their next great catch, the bowfishermen learned... -
County records 5 new COVID-19 cases
The Indiana State Department of Health reported Friday five new COVID-19 cases in Dubois County. -
County sees 9 new COVID-19 cases
The Indiana State Department of Health reported Thursday nine new COVID-19 cases in Dubois County. -
New chamber director devoted to people
Becky Hickman has always enjoyed helping people succeed by connecting them to resources. -
County records 8 new COVID-19 cases
The Indiana State Department of Health reported Wednesday eight new COVID-19 cases in Dubois County. -
County sees 5 COVID-19 deaths, 5 new cases
The Indiana State Department of Health reported Tuesday five new COVID-19 deaths in Dubois... -
Man injured in crash with stopped school bus
A Birdseye man was flown to an Evansville hospital with a head injury after his pickup truck... -
County sees 12 more COVID-19 cases
The Indiana State Department of Health has reported since Friday 12 new COVID-19 cases in Dubois...