Kosciusko County has two active murder cases currently working their way through the courts, and both have had recent activity.

Sonya Lynn Fick

The woman accused in the brutal December killing of the father of her children remains in the Kosciusko County Jail today without bond after a pre-trial conference was held today.

Sonya Lynn Fick — who was initially charged with murder as Sonya Lynn Armontrout, age 42 — had a pre-trial conference today with her public defender, prosecuting attorney Dan Hampton and circuit court Judge Michael Reed.

Fick is charged with three Class A felonies — murder, attempted murder and burglary resulting in bodily injury — for the Dec. 18, 2013 shooting and stabbing death of Steven Carman, 51. Investigators of the Kosciusko County Major Crimes Unit said that Carman was ambushed in his home 44 EMS B10 Ln., Pierceton, by Fick.

Fick reportedly broke into Carman’s residence and hid in a bedroom closet. When Carman, along with Joseph A. Glant, 54, of Warsaw, entered the home, Fick exited the closet and discharged a 9 mm handgun. Glant was struck but able to escape and call 911. Fick is also accused of stabbing Carman in the back. The violent assault took place in the presence of the couple’s two young children.

After the court filed an amendment on Dec. 26 to note the suspect’s last name of Fick, her court-appointed public defender, J. Brad Voelz of Columbia City, filed a motion declining the appointment. The court then appointed Fort Wayne attorney Anthony S. Churchward as Fick’s defense attorney.

At today’s pre-trial hearing, which was held via telephone, another pre-trial hearing was set for 2:30 p.m. April 14.

Robert Edward Hurley

In the second case, Robert E. Hurley, 55, is charged with one Class A felony charge of murdering his roommate.

Hurley is accused of strangling Lionel Dale King, 51, in their trailer in Hideaway Hills on March 3, 2013. Hurley allegedly got into an argument with King and strangled him with some type of cord. (See story)

During his arraignment, Hurley told the judge he had mental issues and took a lot of medications, including those for bipolar disorder. On April 15, Hurley’s court-appointed public defenders, Jay Rigdon and Scott Reust, filed an official insanity defense and requested competency evaluations.

Psychiatric and psychological evaluations were performed by two different doctors with The Bowen Center and filed with the court in October and December. Although those evaluations are sealed in the evidence files and only available to the attorneys, a tentative jury trial date has been set to commence on Aug. 25. A five-day trial is anticipated.

Hurley has been incarcerated in the Kosciusko County Jail since the day of the murder. He is being held without bond.