An Indiana homeowner faces voluntary manslaughter charges for fatally shooting a cleaning woman through his door, raising critical questions about when Stand Your Ground protections truly apply in home defense situations.
Story Overview
- Curt Andersen charged with voluntary manslaughter after shooting Maria Velasquez through the closed door.
- Prosecutor determined the Stand Your Ground law doesn’t protect Andersen’s actions in this case.
- The victim was a cleaning crew member who mistakenly went to the wrong address with the employer’s keys.
- Defense argues the castle doctrine applies, citing the homeowner’s reasonable belief of a threat at the time.
Tragic Mistake Leads to Fatal Encounter
This month, Maria Florinda Rios Perez de Velasquez arrived at the wrong Whitestown address with her husband to clean what they believed was their assigned location.
The 32-year-old mother of four was shot through a closed front door by homeowner Curt Andersen, who believed intruders were attempting to break into his residence. Police found Velasquez dead on the front porch with a gunshot wound to the head shortly before 7 a.m.
An Indiana man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter for fatally shooting a cleaning woman who mistakenly went to the wrong home, prosecutors announced. https://t.co/x1QqcuXaoV
— ABC News (@ABC) November 17, 2025
Stand Your Ground Law Deemed Inapplicable
Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood announced voluntary manslaughter charges against Andersen after determining his actions exceeded legal protections under Indiana’s Stand Your Ground law.
Eastwood stated the homeowner “did not have a reasonable belief that that type of force was necessary, given all the facts that he had at that time.” The prosecutor described the charging decision as straightforward following a comprehensive review of witness statements and crime scene evidence.
Conflicting Accounts of the Fatal Morning
Andersen told police he heard a “commotion” at his front door and saw two people “thrusting” at the door with increasing aggression, prompting him to retrieve his firearm and shoot through the closed door.
However, Velasquez’s husband told investigators they used keys provided by their employer for approximately 30 seconds to one minute, never heard anyone speak from inside, and used no force against the door. The couple had been cleaning homes for seven months and believed GPS directions led them to their assigned model home.
Defense attorney Guy Relford argues the castle doctrine applies, contending Andersen’s actions must be evaluated based on the circumstances he perceived, not with hindsight.
Relford maintains his client “had every reason to believe his actions were absolutely necessary and fully justified at the time.” The defense emphasizes that facts unknowable to Andersen at the time of the incident shouldn’t determine criminal liability under Indiana’s self-defense statutes.
Community Impact and Legal Precedent
This case highlights the delicate balance between protecting homeowners’ rights to defend their property and ensuring tragic mistakes don’t result in unnecessary loss of life.
Velasquez leaves behind four children, including an 11-month-old infant, while Andersen faces potential prison time for what his defense characterizes as justified home protection.
The outcome may influence how Indiana courts interpret Stand Your Ground protections in future cases involving mistaken identity situations.
