The manhunt for an Indiana double murder suspect has ended with an arrest in Massachusetts. Dalonny Rodgers, a 29-year-old man from Indianapolis, was taken into custody by Pittsfield Police during a separate investigation into a stolen vehicle. Rodgers stands accused in the deaths of two Texas men, Jose Rolando Castaneda Varela and Alfredo Garcia, following a shooting at a motel in Plainfield, Indiana, back in September 2022.
On December 13, the Pittsfield Police Department came across Rodgers while probing a larceny case. Their investigation unearthed that Rodgers was wanted back in Indiana for two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. The arrest saw Rodgers facing a battery of charges in Massachusetts, including assault and battery on a police officer, larceny of motor vehicle, resisting arrest, furnishing a false ID, and marijuana possession. As per a media release by the Town of Plainfield, Rodgers now sits in a Pittsfield detention center, awaiting charges before he can be extradited to Indiana.
The collaboration between various law enforcement agencies and the Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office was instrumental in tracking down Rodgers. Plainfield Police Chief Kyle Prewitt lauded the successful arrest, stating, “We are pleased to have this suspect in custody and to be progressing to the next phase of the case, which we believe will result in a sentence that brings justice to the victims, their families, and our community.” He emphasized the expectation of accountability, declaring, “Those who commit acts of violence will be held accountable to the letter of the law,” in a statement obtained by the Town of Plainfield.
Justice for the victims of the tragic September 10 shooting at the Whitehouse Motel appears to be on the horizon following Rodgers' apprehension. While he faces pending charges in Massachusetts, the process of extraditing Rodgers back to Indiana is underway. It is the start of a legal journey that will determine if Rodgers is to be held responsible for the deaths of Castaneda Varela and Garcia, whose lives were abruptly claimed at the hands of violence. As the case develops, law enforcement emphasizes a commitment to due process, reminding the public that all suspects, including Rodgers, are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
