SHELBYVILLE -
Police in Shelbyville say they've made an arrest in the death of a 74-year-old woman.
At a news conference Tuesday, police said they have arrested 35-year-old William Avery Goode of Shelbyville. Goode faces charges of murder, felony murder, receiving stolen property, robbery with serious injury and being a habitual offender.
Police said they executed a search warrant at the suspect's home Monday night and found several items reported stolen by the woman's family, including jewelry, watches and coins.
"Detectives were also able to find bloody clothes inside his residence, along with a large knife with an abundance of blood on the knife, located next to the bed where Mr. Goode sleeps," said Shelbyville Police Lt. Mike Turner.
Turner said Goode was not cooperative when they questioned him, only making a statement that he didn't dwell on "stuff like this for very long."
"I want him to have to pay the price for hurting somebody that was that beautiful, that was that sweet," said Angela McCrist, a neighbor of Kelly. "I'm pretty angry that somebody could do that to such a generous, beautiful, loving person."
Family members found Kelly dead in her home at 23 West Mechanic Street last Friday following a report of a possible burglary. The 911 caller told police the house had been ransacked.
At the beginning of the investigation, police would only say the victim died under suspicious circumstances. An autopsy determined that Kelly did not die from natural causes and police announced Monday they were investigating her death as a homicide.
At Tuesday's news conference, police said Kelly had died of stab wounds. While investigators can't say for sure, they believe Kelly may have tried to fight back.
"The suspect received a knife wound to his right leg," Turner said.
It was that wound, according to police documents, that Goode went to a Greenfield hospital for, the same week police found Kelly's body.
"He's saying it wasn't part of this, but she was stabbed to death, which would be consistent with the knife found at the residence and the knife wound in his leg, as well," Turner said.
Police said Goode rented a home from Kelly and his rent was due around the time of the alleged murder.
Neighbors like McCrist say they feel terrible they couldn't protect someone who was always concerned for them.
"All the neighbors loved her. She watched out for us, as well," she said.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Shelbyville Police Department at (317) 392-5106 or (317) 392-2511. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). All Crime Stoppers calls can be anonymous.
