INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears on Wednesday addressed criticism from the family of a slain Southport Police Department lieutenant.
On Monday, James Allan called the prosecutor's case "lackluster at best" after a judge said Jason Dane Brown would not face life without parole for the 2017 shooting death of Lt. Aaron Allan.
In an interview with WRTV's Rafael Sanchez, Mears said there was nothing else the prosecutor's office could have done differently in its case for life without parole.
Brown was found guilty of murder on Tuesday and faces 45-65 years in prison.
"The most important thing for us at that point was to be able to secure a guilty verdict in this case, which is what we were able to do," Mears said.
RELATED | Lt. Aaron Allan's dad: 'I'm angry as hell. My whole family is.' | Suspect found guilty in Southport police Lt. Aaron Allan's 2017 murder
Mears added that there are no new developments in the death penalty case against Eliahs Dorsey, who is accused of killing Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Breann Leath on April 9, 2020.
"The average lifespan of a death penalty case is measured by years, not months," Mears said.
The prosecutor also said his office continues to make attempts at building trust in the community so more people will feel comfortable coming forward with information after a crime.
"We have to get more people to come forward with information so we can pursue justice for those individuals," Mears said. "There is not a shooting or a homicide that has occurred in Indianapolis where someone doesn’t know something that happened."
Watch the full interview with Mears in the video player.
-
Downtown coffee shop workers advocate for increased wages and paid family leave
Baristas at Quills Coffee in Downtown Indy are pushing to improve pay and benefits. This comes as the minimum wage in Indiana is $7.25 — a number that hasn’t gone up since 2009.
Indianapolis woman shares recovery story to help others in their journey
An Indianapolis woman is sharing her recovery story, hoping to inspire others struggling with addiction to seek help.
Court docs: Hailey Buzbee communicated with suspect for over a year
New court documents from the Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus, Ohio, have been released in the death investigation of Fishers teen Hailey Buzbee.
Looking to buy a home in 2026? Why Zillow ranks Indianapolis as your best bet
A new report from Zillow ranked Indianapolis as the most buyer-friendly housing market in 2026, with real estate agents saying it's one of the best times for homebuyers to get into this market.
