Man Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter After Accidentally Killing Guatemalan Worker in Whitestown
Posted on 11/18/25 at 15:13
- Curt Anderson killed Guatemalan worker
- Charged with involuntary manslaughter
- Debate over self-defense
A homeowner in Indiana accused of killing a domestic worker who mistakenly arrived at his house has sparked an intense debate over the limits of self-defense laws in the United States.
According to Univision, the man, identified as Curt Anderson, was charged Monday with involuntary manslaughter following the shooting death of María Florinda Ríos Pérez De Velásquez.
The victim, a 32-year-old Guatemalan worker, had gone to the wrong address as part of her job with a cleaning company.
The tragedy generated shock both in the local community and among migrant advocacy organizations.
The Formal Charge for Curt Anderson and Its Implications
Authorities in Boone County stated that Anderson faces charges that could result in a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison.
In addition, he could face a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
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Prosecutor Kent Eastwood expressed condolences to the victim’s family and described the incident as “a tragedy for everyone involved.”
He emphasized that the decision to charge the homeowner was based strictly on the facts and the impartial application of the law.
Prosecutor Rejects Claims That the Case Challenges Self-Defense
Before announcing the charge, Eastwood emphasized that prosecutors cannot act based on emotion.
He stated that their duty is “to ensure justice is carried out without prejudice or influence,” according to WTHR.
Following the indictment, he clarified that the decision should not be interpreted as a challenge to Indiana’s “Self-Defense” law.
He explained that, based on the evidence, “the actions of Curt Andersen are not protected” under that statute.
What Happened on the Home’s Porch
Whitestown police reported that the worker had the wrong address at the time of the incident.
Officers responded to a possible burglary call and found Pérez injured on the porch with her husband beside her.
Authorities determined that the woman never entered the home before being fatally shot.
Her husband, Mauricio Velásquez, witnessed the scene from just a few steps away.
The Testimony of María Florinda Ríos Pérez’s Husband Shows the Gravity of the Incident
Velásquez said he held his wife in his arms without realizing at first that she had been shot.
In translated statements, he said: “It’s not easy when someone takes away the person you love, your partner, just like that.”
He added that seeing her fall, covered in blood, was a devastating moment that left him feeling “as if everything had been torn away.”
His testimony has moved the community and amplified calls for justice in the Whitestown involuntary manslaughter case.
A Case That Reignites Debate on Use of Lethal Force
On November 5, Pérez died on the porch after being shot through the front door, leading her family to open a GoFundMepage.
The case has reopened discussions about laws that allow the use of lethal force during a suspected intrusion and the solidarity expressed through community fundraising.
Indiana is one of 31 states with legislation supporting extreme home-defense measures.
But police insist there is no evidence that the victim attempted to enter the home, complicating the defendant’s legal argument, according to Univisión and WTHR.
