Friday, August 14, 2015

Chatterbox Death Ruled A Homicide


It took three months for the Marion Co. Coroner's Office to finally reach the conclusion that the death of a 31-year old man involved in a scuffle at the Chatterbox nightclub on Mass Avenue was the result of a homicide. The Indianapolis Star reports the autopsy finding found that Michael Lanter died from a ruptured aneurysm caused by blunt force trauma to his head. Lanter fell to the ground and struck his head after being struck by another man whom IMPD has never identified. There have been rumors Lanter was struck by a member of the jazz band performing at the nightclub. The scuffle allegedly occurred after the bar tender refused to serve Lanter because of his state of intoxication after he had just paid a cover charge and been allowed to enter the nightclub. There is no indication yet whether the Marion Co. Prosecutor's Office intends to file charges in the case.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It was clearly a homicide. What took everyone so long?

This is just Indiana "loudmouth had it coming" hilljack attitude. Once in court, "loudmouth had it coming" isn't a defense that even the half-arsed Indiana courts can allow to prevail.

In related news, Governor Brown yesterday passed into law a ban on grand juries being used in police killings, and he clarified that people have a full right to record the cops.

There is so much distrust of the criminal system. Favored people are let off, and the disfavored become political prisoners.

Indy Rob said...

did the coroners report include anything about his bac?

Gary R. Welsh said...

The news reports don't mention it, although the final report supposedly took as long as it did because they were awaiting toxicology test results. Maybe the reporters didn't bother to ask that question.

Anonymous said...

The only think I know with certainty about this case is that the oligarchs who run Indy are protecting puncher. There will be no charges and that will be just dandy with the man on the street. Go Colts! Go Trump! Go Bud!

Gary R. Welsh said...

The victim in this case comes from a prominent family. His father is a well-known eye doctor and his step-father is a partner at Bose McKinney. Their attorney has been vocal in their belief his death resulted from an unprovoked attacked

Anonymous said...

Gary, his father is an attorney at Olgetree Deakins. Mother came from the Stuckey restaurants family.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Thanks for the correction, anon., but I think you mean his step-father, Charles Baldwin, works at Ogletree. His father is the eye doctor, Dr. Earl Lanter.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I meant step-father, Chuck. A blast email was sent out the morning after his death to notify everyone that he died and it was an "unprovoked" fight that caused his death, so they had their PR people on it from the beginning. I understand they want someone to pay for Michael's death.

Anonymous said...

Reasonable Level of provocation. Look it up, it's right there in the Indiana code