Indiana man's convictions upheld in wife's slaying

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - The state's high court has affirmed a southwestern Indiana man's convictions in the 2017 killing of his wife and the attempted murders of their twin adult daughters.

Clinton Loehrlein was sentenced last year to 150 years in prison after being convicted of murder and attempted murder in the fatal shooting of his 52-year-old wife, Sherry Loehrlein, and attacks that seriously injured their daughters.

A panel with the Indiana Court of Appeals had ordered a new trial for Loehrlein in February after finding that a juror's 'œuntruthful and misleading responses on the jury questionnaire constituted gross misconduct."

That juror, who was the jury forewoman in Loehrlein's trial, was accused of untruthfulness about a prior criminal charge and her history as a domestic violence victim.

But a Wednesday opinion authored by Justice Steven H. David concluded that while the juror did commit 'œgross misconduct'ť Loehrlein's appeal did not show the misconduct likely hurt his case.

All four of the court's other justices concurred, Evansville Courier & Press reported.

Loehrlein was convicted in August 2019 in the January 2017 attacks that killed his wife and wounded their twin daughter, who are in their 20s, at the family's home in the Vanderburgh County town of Darmstadt.

County Prosecutor Nick Hermann said Wednesday in a statement that his office 'œis extremely grateful" for the high court's decision. He also said the ruling means that Loehrlein's daughters 'œdo not have to step into a courtroom ever again.'ť