Two Indianapolis Men Charged with Murder in 2019 Luring and Shooting Death

Strategic Insights -

A decade after his body was found along the White River, Rodney Steve Mitchell III, a 19-year-old man, was murdered after being lured to a riverbank by two Indianapolis men who posed as his girlfriend online. Alexander Russell, who was already serving a 25-year sentence for attempted murder, and Jonathan Hayes, serving four years for armed robbery, have been charged with murder in the crime.

According to court documents, Mitchell's body was discovered on December 9, 2019, with multiple gunshot wounds and his pockets turned inside out. The suspects used Mitchell's girlfriend's social media accounts to lure him to the White River, where Russell shot him three times in the head and once in the hand. A former roommate later told detectives that Russell confessed to the shooting.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mitchell was lured to the White River by two men who posed as his girlfriend online.
  • Alexander Russell, who was already serving a 25-year sentence for attempted murder, and Jonathan Hayes, serving four years for armed robbery, have been charged with murder in the crime.
  • DNA testing confirmed the presence of DNA from Mitchell, Russell, and Hayes in Mitchell's car.
  • Court documents obtained by WTHR show that Russell and Hayes used Mitchell's girlfriend's social media accounts to lure him to the White River.
  • A former roommate told detectives that Russell confessed to the shooting, and another accomplice claimed that Hayes was the main person assaulting Mitchell and that Russell ultimately pulled the trigger.
  • Surveillance footage supported parts of the timeline, and the suspects were linked to the crime in 2024 through a new investigation.

Statistics:

  • 3: The number of times Mitchell was shot in the head.
  • 1: The number of times Mitchell was shot in the hand.
  • 2: The number of suspects charged with murder - Alexander Russell and Jonathan Hayes.
  • 25 years: The sentence of Alexander Russell for attempted murder.
  • 4 years: The sentence of Jonathan Hayes for armed robbery.
  • 2019: The year Rodney Steve Mitchell III was murdered.
  • 2024: The year a fresh investigation linked Alexander Russell and Jonathan Hayes to the crime.
  • 2025: The year DNA testing confirmed the presence of DNA from Mitchell, Russell, and Hayes in Mitchell's car.
  • 25-year sentence: The sentence for which Alexander Russell is currently serving for attempted murder.

Sources:

  • Court documents obtained by WTHR
  • Investigators spoke with Mitchell's girlfriend, who told them Russell used her social media accounts to lure Mitchell to the White River.
  • A former roommate told detectives Russell confessed to the shooting.
  • Detectives interviewed another alleged accomplice, who claimed Hayes was the main person assaulting Mitchell and that Russell ultimately pulled the trigger.
  • Surveillance footage supported parts of the timeline, according to police.