04/30/2026
As a North Vermillion High School Graduate (1980), I appreciated the invite to an awesome Career Fair! We really enjoyed the new Falcon Activity Center and all the students that we met! The students had tons of great questions.
I also enjoyed the opportunity to speak with the students and staff in a breakout session in the school library. The main subject was a recent trial where we prosecuted and convicted a man from Illinois of attempting to murder two Vermillion County Sheriff's Deputies.
The students were able to see how some cases we end up having in Vermillion County, Indiana, start in Vemilion County, Illinois---Danville in this case. The pursuit started with Danville Police Department---in Danville---attempting to stop a man who was wanted on an Illinois warrant for attempted murder. The pursuit ended just south of Dana, Indiana, with many agencies involved in the pursuit---Vermillion County Sheriff's Deputies leading the pursuit with speeds in excess of 135 mph.
The students saw video of a portion of the pursuit that came into Vermillion County on State Road 32, then south on State Road 63, through the Town of Newport and then on to State Road 71 through Dana. I explained how our office prepared the case for trial, the evidence we used to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt---and ultimately the 90 year prison sentence the defendant recieved on the attempted murder charges.
The students were able to see first hand the great work done by many police agencies working together with our Vermillion County Sheriff's Deputies---and the bravery of those deputies during the pursuit and in the shoot-out at the end of the pursuit. I was proud to be joined in the breakout session by Vermillion County Sheriff's Deputy Joe Wilson. Deputy Wilson was shot in the leg by the defendant---but stayed in the fight!
An important part of the breakout session was the NVHS students learning about our great local law enforcement community---and seeing how multiple NVHS grads [Deputy Joe Wilson, Chief Deputy Chad Hennis, Trooper Tyler Turchi and me] grew up here, went to school here, and all ended up back home working together. Vermillion County is and always will be our home.
These NVHS students---with their good old fashioned Vermillion County work eithic---can do anything they put their minds to! Great bunch of students and faculty.
Special thanks to NV School Resource Officer Jamin Medina for organizing the breakout session and keeping us on topic:) Thanks to all of the students for letting us be a part of your day. Enjoy your summer break!!!
Bruce D. Aukerman
