Jury convicts Indianapolis detainee of murder in 2022 cellmate strangling at Adult Detention Center

Verdict follows June 2022 death at Indianapolis’ Criminal Justice Campus

An Indianapolis man has been found guilty of murder in the death of his cellmate inside the Marion County Adult Detention Center, a case that centered on surveillance video from inside a jail cell and allegations that the defendant attempted to disguise the killing as a suicide.

The victim, identified as Charles Barron, was found dead in his cell on June 19, 2022. Detectives were called to the Criminal Justice Campus after jail staff discovered the body, initiating a homicide investigation that ultimately led to charges against Barron’s cellmate, D’Angelo Smith.

What prosecutors said the jury saw on video

At trial, the case relied heavily on in-cell video described in court filings and prosecutorial statements about the evidence. The footage was said to show Smith placing socks over his hands while Barron slept, then using a bedsheet wrapped around both hands. The video was also described as showing Smith checking the hallway multiple times before jumping onto Barron’s back and strangling him.

After the strangling, investigators alleged Smith attempted to stage the scene to resemble a suicide, using the bedsheet along with a pair of pants. Authorities said Smith later admitted in an interview that he killed Barron and then tried to make it appear Barron had taken his own life.

Timeline and next court step

• June 19, 2022: Barron was found dead in his cell at the Adult Detention Center.

• March 10, 2026: A jury returned a guilty verdict for murder against Smith.

• April 22, 2026 (11 a.m.): Smith is scheduled to be sentenced.

Why the case matters for jail operations and investigations

The prosecution emphasized that the evidence was sufficient to overcome an alleged attempt to manipulate the scene. The case also illustrates how detention-facility surveillance can become central in criminal proceedings involving in-custody deaths, particularly when the circumstances inside a housing unit are disputed.

The verdict establishes criminal responsibility for a killing that occurred inside a secured detention environment, and it advances to sentencing where the court will determine the penalty under Indiana law.

Further details about the sentence will be known after the April 22 hearing, when the court is expected to consider the trial record and any arguments presented by both the prosecution and defense.