IU student Jill Behrman’s killer to stay locked up after a win in Federal Court
Attorney General Todd Rokita and his team have successfully ensured that the criminal who murdered Indiana University student Jill Behrman in 2000 will remain behind bars.
“The wheels of justice might turn slowly at times, but we take comfort in knowing we have achieved the proper outcome in this case,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This vicious predator attacked and killed a young woman out innocently enjoying a bike ride, and Jill’s family since that time has endured a long and drawn-out investigatory and legal process. They will always mourn their loss, but we pray that God will grant them a measure of closure and peace.”
A U.S. district court this week denied a habeas petition filed by John Myers challenging his conviction for Behrman’s murder.
Behrman’s remains were found in 2003, three years after her disappearance. Myers was arrested and convicted in 2006.
In 2019, the U.S. district court initially granted Myers’s habeas petition, reversing his conviction and ordering a new trial. His attorneys repeatedly pushed for his early release from prison, even citing COVID-19 concerns in 2020. But the Office of the Attorney General successfully appealed that decision, and the case was remanded for more proceedings — leading ultimately to this week’s decision.
Attorney General Rokita thanked his criminal appeals team, and specifically Assistant Section Chief Jesse Drum, for their work on this case.
Serial Child Predator sentenced to 25 years in Federal Prison for Sexual Coercion and Enticement of Children as a Sex Offender
Isaiah Austin, 21, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of two minors while required to register as a sex offender, and illegally possessing a firearm. On December 3, 2020, Isaiah Austin was convicted in state court of the criminal confinement and sexual battery of a minor. He was sentenced to a total of five years in prison, with the time he served in pretrial detention executed, just less than a year, and the remaining four years to be served on probation. He was released from custody on the same day and was required by Indiana law to register as a sex offender.
In February 2021, Marion County probation officers conducted a compliance visit on Austin at his home. During their search, officers located a cell phone which contained multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse, as well as images of Austin holding firearms. Officers also uncovered text and Snapchat messages between Austin and a 14-year-old girl, beginning in early January 2021, less than a month after he was released from custody. In these text and Snapchat messages, Austin detailed sexual acts he wanted to engage in with the child and instructed her to send him sexually explicit images of herself.
On November 10, 2021, Austin engaged in a Facebook chat in which he agreed to sell a handgun. On November 17, 2021, Lawrence Police Department officers went to an address where Austin had been staying for the past week. Austin fled the residence by running out of the house and jumping the fence as police arrived. The homeowner and their partner turned Austin’s 9mm handgun over to officers, which was the same make and model as the gun Austin agreed to sell.
On January 14, 2022, Austin was arrested on Federal charges resulting from his exploitation of the 14-year-old girl. While detained in pretrial custody, Austin began sexually exploiting a second minor victim using the jail’s phone and messaging systems. Beginning in March 2022 and continuing through September 2022, Austin directed the second minor to engage in sex acts with an adult male relative of Austin’s and send videos of the conduct to Austin.
Over the next few months, Austin attempted to coerce and entice the second minor into engaging in commercial sex acts, instructing her to “Look up this (adult pornography) website please we need to start making money. Please, for me.” Austin arranged for an adult male to meet up with the second minor for sex and told her that he would get her name tattooed on his face if she recorded the sexually explicit conduct. Austin can be heard on recorded jail calls directing the adult and the minor to engage in sex acts and confirm that they were being recorded.
The case was investigated by U.S. Secret Service and IMPD as part of Indiana’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with valuable assistance provided by the Lawrence Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Austin be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years following his release from federal prison and pay $5,000 in restitution to each victim.
Upgrades coming to Paynetown State Recreation Area
Work on these Paynetown projects is expected to be completed in early December. During the construction period, you may encounter traffic delays on the SRA entrance road and temporary facility closures. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause, but these are much-needed projects that will greatly benefit our property in the long term.
- IN PROGRESS: Comfort Station #1 in the electric campground is CLOSED for demolition and construction. This is the comfort station directly west of the campground gatehouse in the A-Loop of the campground. We are aware that October is peak camping season, making the timing of this project inconvenient. Three other comfort stations in the A-Loop and one in the B-Loop will remain open for camper use through October. Comfort Station #1 will be replaced with a new structure in November and be ready for camper use in the spring.
- Coming soon: Installation of two additional pump-outs at the campground dump station.
- IN PROGRESS: Rehab of the sewer systems for the campground, beach house/activity center, and marina.
- Coming soon: Replacement of the large culverts underneath the entrance road.
Hoosier Women Artists Exhibition Accepting Submissions
Established in 2008, the Hoosier Women Artists Exhibition celebrates the importance of art and creativity in Hoosier communities and highlights the work of talented female artists throughout Indiana. Selected designees will have their artwork displayed in the offices of female elected officials at the Indiana Statehouse and at the Governor’s Residence. Submissions are open from Monday, Oct. 16 to Sunday, Nov. 12 and can be made through the Indiana Arts Commission’s Online Application System.
This Week in Hoosier History
1794 – The U.S. Army moves into a new stockade fort named for General Anthony Wayne. It grows to become Indiana’s second largest city. General Wayne was an American soldier, officer, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to brigadier general and the nickname “Mad Anthony”. He later served as the Senior Officer of the Army on the Ohio Country frontier and led the Legion of the United States.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson