Sheriff says crime is up

WELLS CO, Ind. (WANE) - As Wells County authorities investigate the first two homicides in three years, the sheriff says domestic calls have gone up in the past few months.

Sheriff Bob Frantz tells NewsChannel 15 his observations always lead him back to one thing: "Other than the economy, I don't know what to blame it on. But it just seems like this past year has been quite an increase in that kind of thing."

The county was hit with its first two homicides in several years. Tuesday, police found Amy Meyer White, 28, suffering from two gunshot wounds to the chest in a rural Bluffton home. Her husband, Tyler White, 27, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder.

Then late Wednesday, shots rang out near Uniondale. Investigators say four people in a black pickup truck started shooting at two people in a car. When they got to the scene, they found Justin Sprow, 19, dead inside. Police believe the incident was drug related. "I can't remember anything like this for a long, long time, and I hope it never happens again," said Frantz.

Jonathan Thatcher, 18, Dustin Jackson, 22, Cody Barkley, 18, and Cody Mendez, 17, were arrested and charged with murder.

As NewsChannel 15 reported earlier this week, the sudden surge in violence has taken a toll on county officials. "I've not had a lot of time to digest everything," Well County prosecutor Mike Lautzenheiser told our camera crew. "[With the White murder] right before this one, it's a lot for a little county with the limited resources we have to work with."

Both homicides are still under investigation.