(This story was updated to include comment from the family of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez de Velázquez.)
The Whitestown homeowner charged in the shooting death of a woman after she mistakenly arrived at his home as part of a cleaning crew earlier this month will be allowed out on bond.
Curt Andersen, 62, had his first day in court Nov. 21 where he pleaded not guilty in the shooting of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez de Velázquez after she arrived at Andersen’s home on Maize Lane in The Heritage, a Whitestown subdivision. The house Ríos Pérez and her husband, Mauricio Velázquez, were hired to clean was in a newly built subdivision behind the Andersen’s home and was supposed to be vacant.
The Nov. 5 shooting has garnered national attention and sparked debate over stand-your-ground and Castle Doctrine laws. Andersen told police at the time that he believed people were trying to break into his home when he fired a Glock pistol through the door, fatally striking Ríos Pérez in the head.
On Nov. 17, Boone County Prosecutor Kent T. Eastwood charged Andersen with one count of voluntary manslaughter.
Andersen arrived at the hearing wearing a bulletproof vest over the standard-issue orange jumpsuit with his hands shackled near his waist. He shuffled his feet and stared at the courthouse’s stained glass ceiling while being led into the courtroom by Boone County Sheriff’s deputies.
The judge imposes a compromise on Andersen’s bail
The prosecutor shared concerns with Boone County Superior Court Judge Matthew Kincaid that Andersen could potentially flee to Japan, as his wife’s family still resides in the country. Andersen is also familiar with the country having spent time there during his 26 years in the Navy.
Prosecutors requested that Andersen surrender his passport to the court. They also requested the judge set Andersen’s bail at $50,000 and place him on home detention with a GPS monitor device attached.
Andersen’s attorney Guy Relford, requested the judge impose the bail for client at $25,000 with the minimal restriction.
Relford argued Andersen was not a flight risk, highlighting that he has several ties to Indiana and the community, including family members who live in Indianapolis and Fishers. He also has no prior criminal record, Relford said.
After hearing both sides, the judge set bail for Andersen at $25,000. Andersen must also surrender his passport, have GPS monitoring and will not be allowed to have firearms throughout the course of the case.
Following the hearing, the attorney representing Ríos Pérez’s family released a statement on the family’s behalf.
“While we respect the legal process and the presumption of innocence, we believe the court’s decision should have restricted the Defendant more by limiting him to Home Detention and requiring the $50,000 Bond recommended by the Prosecutor,” Attorney Alexander J. Limontes wrote.
Andersen’s next court date is set for March 30, 2026.
Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bail set for Whitestown homeowner in cleaning woman’s shooting death
Reporting by Noe Padilla, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
