Lucius Hamilton’s friend speaks out on double murder suspect

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) – When Tom Santelli heard the news Wednesday, he thought there might be a mistake.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Santelli said.

According to police, Santelli’s friend of thirteen years, Lucius Hamilton, killed his 31-year-old niece and her four-year-old daughter over a family inheritance. He then committed suicide in an Indianapolis hotel.

Santelli is President of the Traders Point Hunt Club. He said Hamilton was a member until he left in 2012 to spend more time with his family.

The two kept in touch and Santelli said he saw Hamilton a few months ago.

“There was no absolutely no sign whatsoever that Mr. Hamilton was at a tipping point,” Santelli said.

He described Hamilton as a kind man and a philanthropist who was more worried about charity than his own money.

Santelli said he never saw Hamilton have a drink, but police said they found Hamilton’s body in a hotel room along with prescription drugs and alcohol.

He said there must have been another side to Hamilton, a side that could have been suppressed with proper mental health treatment.

“I think that with that kind of help and support this probably would not have happened,” Santelli said.

The Traders Point Hunt Club cancelled a meeting Wednesday and Santelli said they planned to meet Thursday to help each other cope with the news.

“It’s really difficult to process,” he said. “You just cannot believe that somebody you’ve been associated with can commit this kind of act.”

Santelli is a Boone County councilor and he said people who reach out to the county health department will be connected to mental health resources.