Danny Clark

The jury heard evidence over six days and deliberated for about four hours before returning verdicts Tuesday (April 12) of guilt for every charge, reports Pulaski County Prosecutor Kelly Gaumer. State's evidence showed that Clark entered the residence without permission and waited there with a shotgun because he said he wanted to talk to the homeowner. However, when Toosley entered the home to run an errand for the owner, Clark pointed the gun at him and ordered him to the ground. Clark then inflicted several fatal blows to the back of Toosley's head. Finally, Clark set the house on fire, stole the vehicle Toosley drove there, and fled the scene, according to a press release from the prosecutor’s office.

Members of the Medaryville Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire and found the house fully engulfed. When the fire was completely extinguished, the family members of Toosley notified the firefighters that he had been to the house earlier and was not responding to calls or messages. Then officials found Toosley's body face down near the front door. Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Hauptli made the shocking discovery. The coroner's office later determined that Toosley died from blunt force trauma but endured burns on over 80% of his body after his death, according to court evidence.

Clark escaped south to Louisiana, where he was apprehended almost two weeks after the killing. When interviewed after it happened, Clark described to detectives that “[H]e started bleeding, shaking and, and he stopped moving, and I realized that I thought I'd killed him," referring to Toosley. However, after his arrest, Clark claimed Toosley's death was an accident and that Clark suffered from depression at the time, the prosecutor reports.

Gaumer countered with medical evidence from Toosley's body. "The autopsy showed Toosley suffered severe head trauma commonly seen in car accidents. A bone specialist located five impact points on Toosley's skull. There is no doubt that Clark inflicted these wounds intentionally and with great force." 

Gaumer added, “Pulaski County residents should feel proud about law enforcement's incredible efforts to gain this conviction. Clark is a dangerous man, and Mr. Toosley's death is inexcusable. Clark had many other options, and all of them were better than beating a person who was already on the ground. There was just no reason for this, and, if not for Clark's actions, Mr. Toosley should still be alive." 

Members of the Indiana State Police, Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, State Fire Marshal's Office, Carroll County Sheriff's Department, White County Sheriff's Department, Brookston Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, Pulaski County Coroner's Office, and Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana Sheriff's Department all worked to bring Clark to justice. 

Gaumer also commended jurors for their service throughout the six days of testimony. "The jury committed lots of time and attention to this case. Nobody wants to think that crimes like this happen in our community. Thankfully, we also have wonderful citizens who step up to serve when criminals resort to violence on this scale. The victim’s families are grateful that our jurors made time and agreed to deliberate on this serious matter. We all owe them our thanks."