Inmates to face murder charges in Putnamville killing

PUTNAMVILLE -- Murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges have been filed against two Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF) inmates in the July 13 beating death of a third offender at the prison.

Andrew L. Perry, 24, sentenced to PCF for drug-related offenses out of Johnson County, and Justin A. Morse, 28, sentenced out of Vigo County for dealing in methamphetamine, are scheduled to go before Putnam Circuit Court Judge Matt Headley to answer charges in the death of Lawrence N. Harris, 53, Indianapolis.

In the aftermath of the incident in Dorm 17, Perry and Morse were identified on videotape as suspects in Harris’ attack. Perry was then transferred to the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, while Morse was sent to the Pendleton Correctional Facility to continue his incarceration.

The probable cause affidavit filed in Putnam Circuit Court states that Perry and Morse were seen meeting up in the day room of Dorm 17, where just before 6 a.m. July 13 they entered an area known as Cube 4. That was where they found Harris, who had arrived at Putnamville just one week earlier, next to his bed.

Court records identify Perry as “the aggressor,” noting that he punched Harris, initially knocking him down onto the bed where he continued to repeatedly strike him with his fists.

During that time, the probable cause affidavit notes that Morse “was just standing, watching Perry” strike the victim.

Reportedly, there is nothing on the video that ever shows Harris attempting to fight back. He tried to get up once, the probable cause notes, but was knocked back down by Perry, falling to the floor between the two beds in the cell.

Once Harris was on the ground, Perry began stomping on him with his feet while still punching the victim, authorities said. Morse can then be seen on the video kicking and stomping Harris, court records indicate.

After noticing Perry and Morse out of place in the dorm and smiling brazenly as they passed him en route back to their dorm area, a PCF officer went to Cube 4 and found Harris unconscious. He died later that day.

When the two inmate suspects were detained, they were found to have blood on their shoes and clothing. The blood evidence was sent to the Indiana State Police laboratory at Indianapolis for examination.

The victim’s blood was detected on several items, including paper Perry reportedly used to wipe off his hands, his jump suit, white T-shirt and shoes. The report noted that Harris’ blood was even found on Perry’s underwear.

Perry, whose earliest possible release date was April 26, 2017 prior to the incident, will also likely face an additional charge as an habitual criminal, Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter said. That could add 30 years to his sentence if convicted.

Perry would then be facing 45-95 years for his charges, while Morse is likely facing 45-65 years for the murder charge. Morse’s earliest possible release date had been listed as April 16, 2021.

Harris, who had been serving a six-year term for burglary out of Marion County, had an earliest possible release date of April 14, 2017.