Back in 1989, Lakeville, IN was a close tight-knit town of about 650 residents. Life in Lakeville centered on farming, small businesses, and and churches, including the Olive Branch Church. Bob Pelley, the pastor and his blended family lived in the home next to the church called a parsonage. Bob, his two children, his new wife Dawn and her three daughters made up this blended family. After Bob and Dawn, both widowers, married each other, some of the children didn’t take too kindly to the new family dynamic. On April 30, 1989, 4 of the 7 members of the Pelley family were found brutally murdered in the parsonage. The community and remaining family members were shattered and confused. Unknowingly to the family, the police focused in on one suspect from the start. With only circumstantial evidence, they could not charge this suspect. 13 years after the murders, the new county prosecutor believed there was enough evidence to arrest this suspect – Jeff Pelley. Though convicted, to this day Jeff maintains his innocence and is attempting to petition for post conviction relief. Do you believe the police and jury convicted the right man?
Sources:“Survivor continues to heal decades after her family's prom night murder” by Jim Axelrod on CBS News: 48 Hours on June 22, 2025 (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jessi-toronjo-jeff-pelley-prom-night-murder-survivor/)
“Investigators in Slayings no Closer to Arrest” in The Herald on May 3, 1989
“No new trial for 'Prom Night Murders,' judge rules” by Marek Mazurek on 88.1 WVPE on May 1, 2024 (https://www.wvpe.org/wvpe-news/2024-05-01/no-new-trial-for-prom-night-murders-judge-rules)
“Minister, family are buried” by Thomas P. Wyman in The Muncie Evening Press on May 4, 1989
“Jeff Pelley, convicted nearly 20 years ago as ‘Prom Night Killer,’ denied retrial” by WNDU.com on 16 News Now WNDU on April 29, 2024 (https://www.wndu.com/2024/04/29/jeff-pelley-convicted-nearly-20-years-ago-prom-night-killer-denied-retrial/)
“Son of Slain Minister Questioned by Police” in The Grand Haven Tribune on May 4, 1989
“Teen accused of killing his family in argument over prom” by Guest Author on Yahoo! News on June 22, 2025 (https://www.yahoo.com/news/teen-accused-killing-family-argument-055402023.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKLYpRMwN4Mgt7Pdzc12Q7eszmC9IIZ2GdUI37NtBAItcH0NUB8nn6-gbZalTzpjzrUppqFVI15VvFYEvYbLqBAhZBBZLePHiQ5K_Xhrz0QyUZe5i2bm75aiZPCTEg7YRApt1nps-eFErwIPphO9C-lpuDp6DYzj0fOBmX1GUIYD)
https://townoflakevilleindiana.com/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8196288/robert_lee-pelley
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8196297/dawn_marie-pelley
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8196306/janel_marie-pelley
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8196298/jolene_meghan-pelley
“The Prom Night Killer” on Evil Lives Here, Season 8, Episode 5 on Discovery+
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