LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two southern Indiana men were arrested and charged with the murder of a 51-year-old Harrison County man earlier this year.
David Woosley Jr. 23, of Elizabeth, and Edward Powers 26, of Pekin, were arrested Friday morning and charged with the murder of David Woosley Sr.
According to a probable cause affidavit, first responders responded to a house fire on March 15 on Old Highway 111 in Elizabeth. After the fire was extinguished, investigators found a body in the ashes. The home was completely destroyed.
The body was identified as Woosley Sr., who had suffered two gunshot wounds to the back of the head. A forensic pathologist determined the bullets were likely from a .30-caliber rifle and that the wounds were not self-inflicted. No soot was found in the airway or lungs, indicating he was dead before the fire started.
"This was a planned attack. Mr. Woosley alone in his bedroom and likely caught by surprise stood no chance of defending himself," said Harrison County Sheriff Nick Smith.
The affidavit states that Woosley Sr. and his son had a contentious relationship, including emergency protective orders and threats of legal action involving custody disputes. Text messages from Woosley Sr. to his ex-wife included accusations and legal threats, while messages between him and his son revealed rising tensions in the months leading up to the murder.
After a lengthy investigation that lasted nearly two months and involved warrants at multiple houses and through multiple people's phones, Woosley Jr. and Powers were charged with murder, arson and obstruction of justice.
The case has had a profound impact on Woosley Sr.'s family.
“This right here is just heartbreaking and it’s unreal right now. It still feels like a dream,” said Christina Abdel-Kader, Woosley Sr.’s niece. “He was a character. He didn’t deserve to go out like this. It was a blow to the whole entire family.”
According to court documents, a friend of the victim told police that Woosley Sr. had no known issues with people, other than his son and ex-wife. Family members also expressed doubts about whether Woosley Jr. was Woosley Sr.’s biological son.
Detectives said the investigation required substantial resources.
“Thousands of hours were poured into this investigation,” said Nick Smith of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities executed multiple search warrants and examined firearms and electronic devices. Powers' internet search history included queries such as whether police can tap into Wi-Fi and searches for criminal defense attorneys—details investigators noted were unusual for someone not involved in a crime.
Digital evidence, including text messages and call logs, placed both suspects communicating before and after the fire. Surveillance footage and forensic analysis linked both to the crime scene, and a burned bullet matched those retrieved from the victim. A possible accelerant was found near the body, and no weapon matching the bullet was found at the scene, further suggesting foul play.
Officials have not publicly discussed a motive, but court documents point to long-standing family conflict.
“This is a big case. It took a lot of time, and it went a lot of places,” Smith added.
Both suspects are scheduled to stand trial in October. If convicted, they each face up to 65 years in prison.
“We just hope we get closure. That’s what we need,” Abdel-Kader said. “Because we can’t bring him back. If we could, we’d bring him back in a heartbeat.”
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