A judge on Friday set bail at $25,000 for an Indiana man accused of killing a house cleaner who mistakenly approached his home earlier this month.
Curt Andersen, 62, appeared in Boone County Superior Court wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and a bulletproof vest. He faces a charge of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the Nov. 5 death of 32-year-old Maria Florinda Rios Perez De Velasquez.
In addition to setting the bond amount, Judge Matthew Kincaid ordered Andersen to surrender his passport. A jury trial has been scheduled to begin on March 30.
RELATED: Indiana Homeowner Charged After Shooting House Cleaner Who Had Wrong Address
A Tragedy at the Doorstep
According to court documents, the shooting unfolded when Rios and her husband—part of a professional cleaning crew—arrived at Andersen’s Whitestown home by mistake. Believing they were at the correct job site, they attempted to unlock the front door with a key provided by their company.
Investigators say Andersen fired a single shot through the closed door without warning. The bullet struck Rios in the head; her husband was unharmed.
Andersen reportedly told detectives he heard the lock turning and believed someone was attempting to break in. However, police noted there is no evidence Rios or her husband ever entered the residence.
Legal Battle Looming
The case is expected to test the boundaries of Indiana’s self-defense statutes. The state’s “Stand Your Ground” law generally permits homeowners to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent unlawful entry or terminate an attack.
Andersen is represented by Guy Relford, a prominent gun rights attorney. While Relford has not commented extensively on specific details, he has maintained that his client believed his actions were justified under the law. Neither Relford nor Boone County Prosecutor Kent Eastwood commented following Friday’s hearing.
READ: “Why Would You Do That?”: Dying Indiana Mother’s Final Words Caught On 911 Call
Family Expresses Outrage
Alexander Limontes, an attorney for the victim’s family, issued a statement criticizing the court’s decision on bail. Prosecutors had requested a $50,000 bond, and Limontes argued that home detention should have been a mandatory condition of release.
“Maria was a hardworking mother and wife who showed up for her family, friends, and community every single day,” Limontes said. “She was simply doing her job. For her family, today’s bond hearing is another painful reminder of the loss they suffered and the long road to justice that lies ahead.”
Rios, a Guatemalan immigrant described by her brother as a mother of four, will be returned to her home country on Saturday. A funeral is scheduled for Sunday in the town of Cabrican.
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