INDIANAPOLIS -- A homeless man who fatally stabbed a good Samaritan in the first homicide of 2015 pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the man's murder on Friday.
Indianapolis police were called to a home in the 3700 block of North Meridian Street on Jan. 7, 2015, on a report of a homicide.
Investigators learned that 58-year-old Gale Haltom had invited a homeless couple from a nearby bus stop into his home to stay out of the cold.
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While the female half of the couple was away, Haltom apparently got into an argument with the man, 32-year-old Romaine Durrett. Durrett then became violent and stabbed Haltom, killing him.
On Friday, Durrett pleaded guilty but mentally ill to one count of murder in the case.
He was sentenced to 40 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections followed by five years in Marion County Community Corrections. He will also have to undergo psychological evaluation and treatment.
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