Latest news with #AllenCogswell
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused in murder of family members assaulter has first day in court
A man charged with killing a convicted pedophile had his initial hearing in Elkhart County Circuit court on Thursday. Nicholas Phillip Stanley, 35, of Elkhart, was accused in the murder of Allen Cogswell, 35, of Elkhart, at the Daylite Inn in Elkhart June 24. Elkhart police were called to the area at 12:55 a.m. for a shooting with injuries, where they found Cogswell deceased in Room 251, having been shot in the head and chest. A witness reported it had happened about 15 minutes prior, stating he saw a white man with a long gun look in the window of the room and knock on the door, according to police. When Cogswell opened the door, the armed man began shooting, police reported. The witness and other witnesses reported the man then fleeing from the scene in the direction of Menards. Using surveillance from Menards and from the Red Roof Inn, the Elkhart County Homicide Unit said police found a man matching the description minutes before the shooting, walking toward the Daylite Inn at 12:31 a.m. and back to the same maroon SUV at 12:53 a.m., leaving the area in that vehicle. Police said they used the Flock camera system to capture the license plate and track it, identifying the registered owner as Bruce Stanley, of Middlebury, who resided there with his son, Nicholas, according to BMW records. Police confirmed that Cogswell, a sex offender, was released from prison in May 2025. According to court records, Nicholas Stanley is related to a victim in that case. Stanley told police that he last knew Cogswell to still be in prison, but it was later learned that both the dad and Nicholas knew that Cogswell was staying at the motel, the press release reads. During his initial hearing on Thursday, Stanley was appointed a public defender, despite commentary by Elkhart County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ashley Fair that a GoFundMe for Stanley had already raised nearly $13,000. The GoFundMe, Fair also noted, had stated that the purpose was to raise funds for Stanley's legal counsel, but has since been changed to indicate that it will support his family's needs. Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno stated that the $13,000 would not go far in paying defense for a murder case anyway, and Stanley was deemed indigent and appointed a public defender. Stanley's pretrial conference is scheduled for July 31, trial status conference Sept. 11 and jury trial scheduled for Oct. 6. SAMI F. HUSSEN and ASHLEY N. SEABOLT Only one of three individuals originally scheduled for a murder trial Aug. 4 retained their position after Elkhart County Circuit Court was finished on Thursday. Ashley N. Seabolt pleaded guilty to murder, while Sami Hussen had his jury trial rescheduled. Stephonn Sutton, who was set to be tried alongside Seabolt, did not appear in court Thursday and was not scheduled to be anyway. Police spent nearly a month investigating the shooting death of Toby Ray Fisher, 32, of South Bend, which ultimately led to murder charges for Sami F. Hussen, 38; Ashley N. Seabolt, 41; and Stephonn T. Sutton, 36. The trio had their initial hearings in Elkhart County Circuit Court Thursday. Elkhart police found Fisher covered in blood and not breathing in the 700 block of Monroe Street at River Run Apartments after a call for a shooting with injuries at 6:55 p.m. Nov. 26, 2024. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Family and friends rally at courthouse in Goshen in support of murder suspect
GOSHEN — The sister of a man accused of killing a convicted pedophile right after his release from prison, led a rally near the Elkhart County Courthouse Wednesday. On June 24, Nicolas Stanley, 35, allegedly shot and killed Allen Cogswell, 35, at the Daylite Inn in Elkhart. Police were called shortly after midnight with reports of a shooting. According to police reports, a witness told investigators a man with a long gun, later identified as Stanley, looked in the window of a room and knocked on the door. When Cogswell opened the door, the armed man began shooting, the report reads. Stanley was taken into custody later that day without incident. It was soon revealed that Cogswell was a convicted sex offender who was recently released from prison after serving six and a half years of a 12-year sentence for child molestation. The victim was a relative of Stanley's. On Wednesday afternoon, Stanley's sister, Jessica Stanley, led a rally on the sidewalk adjacent to the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen. She was hoping to draw as many as 100 supporters, although about half that number was present 30 minutes after it began at noon. Many of those in attendance held handmade signs while others wore shirts bearing a anti-pedophilia logo and the hashtag '#freenic.' Although many drivers honked their horns in obvious support of the demonstrators, a few also hurled derogatory insults toward them as they passed by. Both types of actions were met with in-kind reactions from those gathered on the sidewalk. 'My brother is a very good dad, obviously; he cares about both of his children,' said Jessica Stanley. 'Had Allen Cogswell not been released so soon, I don't think we'd be here in this position. It's been really difficult for our family, but we stand behind Nic 100%. We just need better reform and stricter laws when it comes to sentencing of child sex abusers.' Stanley said the abuse of the child took place over an eight-month span during 2017. Cogswell was caught and arrested in January 2018 and sentenced that April. According to Stanley, Cogswell was a distant relative of the victim, which was how he gained access to the child. 'We are advocating for my brother,' Stanley said. 'We are hopeful for a minimal sentence. We're hoping for 10 years at most, but we understand that it could be upwards of 65 years. We've got hope that the prosecuting attorney and the jury will see that, due to the circumstances of the case.' She has had the opportunity to speak with her brother, who is being held without bail at the Elkhart County Jail. He has seen both of his children. She said her brother has received a lot of support from the community including Bikers Against Predators whose president attended the rally. Supporters have even made financial contributions to his commissary account. She said he knows he has received numerous messages of encouragement, as well. 'Right now he's remaining hopeful,' she said. 'He's pretty cheerful despite the circumstances. He's remaining positive that this will get down to the lowest possible sentencing time. My brother needs to be here with his children instead of being in jail.'
