Evansville man faces murder charge after man found in wildlife area
ELBERFELD, Ind. (WISH) — An Evansville man is facing murder charges for the death of a 27-year-old man found in a wildlife area in Warrick County Saturday.
Johnathon Buza, 40, of Evansville, faces charges for the murder of 27-year-old Manuel Eduardo Heaton of Evansville, officers with the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.
At around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, a passerby contacted police after finding a body at the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area in northwest Warrick County. Officers with the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene and immediately began an investigation.
The Warrick County Coroner identified the body as Heaton Monday, and investigators announced that Heaton’s death was being investigated as a homicide on the same day. Officers then took Buza into custody Tuesday.
Buza also faces charges of felony murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. Online court documents say that Buza was previously charged with robbery in 2004.
Buza was being held at the Warrick County Jail and a preliminary hearing has not been announced yet.
Detectives are still asking anyone with information to contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536 or the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office at 812-897-6180.
