A man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter after fatally shooting a house cleaner who mistakenly arrived at his residence. The incident, which occurred in Whitestown, a suburb of Indianapolis, involves 62-year-old Curt Andersen. The victim, María Florinda Ríos Pérez De Velásquez, a 32-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, was part of a cleaning crew that went to the wrong house early in the morning on November 5.

María’s husband witnessed the tragic event, stating that she was shot through the front door as they stood on the porch. Andersen now faces potential imprisonment ranging from 10 to 30 years and a fine of $10,000 if found guilty. Although Indiana allows homeowners to use deadly force under stand-your-ground laws, officials clarified that there was no evidence suggesting María attempted to enter the house before being shot.

Andersen’s lawyer, Guy Telford, expressed disappointment over the charges, arguing that his client acted within the boundaries of the law. However, Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood emphasized that Andersen lacked sufficient information to justify his use of deadly force. According to Andersen’s account to investigators, he heard noises at the door, leading him to believe that someone was attempting to gain entry.

Furthermore, no evidence of forceful contact with the door was found, and the cleaning company confirmed the crew’s assignment at a different location. Legal experts pointed out that individuals can access private property until told to leave, emphasizing that homeowners cannot resort to lethal force against individuals with legitimate purposes on their premises.