Matthew Roland Hoover
UPDATE (August 6, 2021):
STEUBEN CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Steuben County Sheriff Rodney Robinson has announced a break in the investigation into the homicide of 82-year-old Wilma Ball that began back on June 23rd, 2021.
The incident occurred at Ball’s residence located at 395 Ln 200E Lake James in rural Pleasant Township.
Last week, the Steuben County Sheriff released the following:
Through extensive investigative efforts and DNA analysis, a suspect has been identified and taken into custody without incident. The suspect is 29-year-old Matthew Roland Hoover of Anderson, IN. Hoover, a former neighbor of the victim, was taken into custody in the 700 block of West Vinyard St in Anderson located in Madison County, just after 4:30 pm on 08/04/2021. He was later transported back to Angola by Sheriff’s detectives following an interview and booked in the Steuben County Jail on a preliminary charge of Murder. Hoover remains held without bond pending an initial court appearance. The investigation is still ongoing and additional criminal charges may be sought. Assisting the Sheriff’s Office with the apprehension were the Indiana State Police and Anderson Police.
UPDATE (June 29, 2021):
STEUBEN CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s further assistance with the investigation into the homicide of 82-year-old Wilma Ball that occurred at 395 Ln 200E Lake James in rural Steuben County. Sheriff’s detectives are seeking any possible additional residential surveillance video on Lake James Lane 200 and surrounding areas that has not already been provided. The time frame of the video would be from 5:30 pm on 06/22/2021 to 1:00 pm on 06/23/2021.
The following was issued by the Sheriff’s Office:
Anyone with additional video surveillance is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 260-668-1000 Ext 5000. Detectives are also asking anyone with any information regarding any suspicious activity and/or persons in that area during that time to please contact the Sheriff’s Office. In order to facilitate communicating with the Sheriff’s Office, a new App has been developed and recently released.
This App allows users to submit information directly to the Sheriff’s Office using a smartphone or tablet and is available for download from the App Store or Google Play Store for free. Users can also subscribe to notification channels to receive important information from the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office along with the assistance of the Indiana State Police are working diligently following every lead in order to bring this case to a successful resolution as quickly as possible. We would like to remind our citizens to continue being safe and vigilant, and to please report anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to update the public as often as can be done through the Sheriff’s App, Sheriff’s Facebook page, and news media outlets. Below is the link to download the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office App. You can also scan the QR code HERE
ORIGINAL STORY:
STEUBEN CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – Officers in Steuben County were initially called to Lake James Lane Wednesday afternoon on a report of an unresponsive woman.
When they arrived, a death investigation was initiated after finding the woman. Further investigation led police to believe there may have been foul play in the 82-year-old woman’s death.
A homicide investigation began after that into what happened in the home at 395 Lake James Lane 200E.
On Thursday, the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office released the following:
The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office along with the assistance of the Indiana State Police are conducting a death investigation at a residence on Lake James in Steuben County’s rural Pleasant Township. On 06/23/2021 just after 12:30 pm, Sheriff’s Deputies and Steuben County EMS responded to the 300 block of Lake James Lane 200E on a report of an unresponsive female victim inside the residence. Initial responding deputies arrived and located the victim who was found to be deceased. During the initial response, circumstances that appeared unusual and suspicious were observed by responding deputies. Sheriff’s detectives were immediately altered and responded to the scene. A subsequent autopsy was performed on the victim identified as 82 year old Wilma Ball of Angola, Indiana at the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center in Fort Wayne. Following the autopsy, the death has been ruled a homicide by the Steuben County Coroner’s Office. At this time, the investigation is still in the preliminary stages and ongoing. No other information is available pending further investigation. Assisting the Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police at the scene were Steuben County EMS, the Steuben County Coroner’s Office, and the Steuben County Prosecutor’s Office.
