A Marion County jury today found D'Angelo Smith guilty of murder in the June 2022 strangling of his cellmate, Charles Barron, inside the Marion County Criminal Justice Campus. Smith is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on April 22 at 11 a.m., according to court records. Prosecutors said the attack happened while Barron slept and that Smith tried to stage the scene to look like a suicide, a case that has once again put a spotlight on safety inside the county's adult detention center.
Surveillance Footage, Staging And An Admission
During the trial, prosecutors highlighted surveillance video that they said showed Smith pulling socks over his hands, wrapping a bedsheet around both hands, checking the hallway several times, then jumping on Barron's back and strangling him. Investigators said Smith later tried to stage the death to resemble a suicide, using a sheet and a pair of pants, and that he ultimately admitted to killing Barron. Those details and the guilty verdict were described by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office and reported by WTHR.
Victim And Timeline
Officials said Barron was found unresponsive in his cell on June 19, 2022, at the county's Criminal Justice Campus. Within days, prosecutors filed a murder charge against Smith, and investigators treated the death as a homicide from the outset. The case was later listed among Indianapolis' homicides for 2022. As reported by WRTV, detectives reviewed surveillance footage along with other evidence while building their case.
Prosecutor: Verdict Ensures Accountability
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said the conviction "ensures accountability for Charles Barron’s death and serves as a reminder that violent acts will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted." In a statement to WTHR, Mears praised the work of investigators and said his office would pursue a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the crime.
What Comes Next
Smith is set to appear in Marion Superior Court on April 22 at 11 a.m. for sentencing. At that hearing, a judge will weigh the prosecution's recommendation and any arguments from the defense before deciding how long Smith will spend behind bars.
