Blaze destroys home where man was shot and killed

Police continue to investigate a fire that destroyed a home in the Crothersville area that belonged to murder victim John Shoultz early Friday morning.

The residence was not occupied when fire erupted.

Jackson County Sheriff's Department Detective Bob Lucas said Shoultz's wife, Ronda Shoultz, has reportedly moved from the area since her 49-year-old husband was shot and killed at the home at 7865 S. Ind. 39 late on the evening of May 2. Their son has been charged in the shooting death.

"I'm still trying to get a hold of her," Lucas said.

The son, John A. Shoultz III, 21, Crothersville, faces a charge of murder in connection with the death of his father, who was shot four times, including two times in the chest, once in his abdomen and in his right pinky finger. Shoultz III remains in the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown.

Shoultz's girlfriend, Andrea Dawn Howard, 19, was charged with assisting a criminal after the shooting but posted bond on May 8. Howard lived with the Shoultzes at the time of the murder.

Besides looking for Ronda Shoultz, investigators also are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze at the couple's home, located south of Tampico, Lucas said.

An investigator with the Indiana State Fire Marshal's office has visited the home but was unable to determine a cause for the blaze that destroyed the one-story wood structure.

Two outbuildings were not damaged.

"It's undetermined at this time," Lucas said.

The blaze was reported at 4:51 a.m. Friday, and firefighters with Grassy Fork Township Fire Department and county Officer Ben Rudolph responded to the fire.

County Lt. Darin Downs and detectives Rick Blaker Jr. and Rob Henley also are involved in the investigation.