Docs: Indianapolis man’s father says son confessed to roommate’s murder

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis man was arrested and charged for the September murder of his roommate, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

Erik Hale, 34, is accused of killing 52-year-old Pamela Garruto and shooting one of her friends on Sept. 11 on the city’s northeast side. He faces charges of murder, aggravated battery, robbery, criminal recklessness and possession of a handgun by a felon.

Police say Hale knew Garruto because he was roommates with her and her boyfriend.

Police were familiar with Hale after speaking with him days prior following a domestic incident involving Garruto and her boyfriend.

“Mr. Hale stated Ms. Garruto asked him if he was leaving this morning and he responded to her by saying, ‘no, but you need to leave to get my money,’” reads a police report from Sept. 9.

On the night of the shooting, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers found Garruto and her friend, a man whose name was withheld by police, inside the cab of a pickup truck near East 34th Street and Brouse Avenue. Both had been shot; Garruto died at the scene.

The man was taken to a hospital in stable condition. He told investigators he and Garruto were friends and they were sitting in his truck when a man came up to the truck and shot them, court papers say.

The victim pointed to Hale’s picture when given an array of suspect photos, but wasn’t completely sure because at the time of the shooting, the suspect had on a bandana.

Homicide detectives began investigating and found Garruto’s cell phone. They found that Garutto had been texting with someone named “E.”

According to court papers, “Ms. Garruto stated ‘I’m just letting you know his brother boost is on his way and Tony told me to tell you you cannot come here until he gets home and this is your fault how dare you so trust me do not come here in the name of Jesus.’ Ms. Garruto continues to say, ‘Bcuz I’m afraid of you I’ve been afraid of you and you caused this are you happy now do not come here.’”

The day after the shooting, a witness called police and said he saw what happened and knew “E” was the shooter.

They established Hale as a suspect, and during the investigation, Hale’s father contacted police and said his son had confessed to killing Garruto and shooting her friend.

According to court papers, Hale’s father said, “I called them because my son came and told me he killed somebody.”

Hale’s father also said he saw a news report about Garutto’s death and thought his son might be involved, telling investigators, “something hit him in his spirits because he knew that’s the area of town his son Erik hangs out.”

During a search of Hale’s home, investigators found a journal with several entries from Hale, including a line that said, “My Daddy tried to turn me in to face a death sentence. Now he’s the next that’s going to die, I put that on his children (and me),” court docs say.

Police tracked Hale down and arrested him Tuesday near a gas station at the intersection of 38th Street and Emerson Avenue.

When speaking with detectives, Hale claimed he was watching his god kids the night the shooting occurred.

Online court records indicate Hale had an initial court appearance on Thursday and returns to court in December.