HENDRICKS COUNTY, Ind. — Officials with the Hendricks County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced Friday that they are seeking a life sentence for the suspect connected to the death of 33-year-old Indiana State Police Trooper Aaron Smith.

According to court documents, filed Friday afternoon in the Hendricks County Circuit Court, the office filed a notice of intent to seek life imprisonment without parole for Eddie Jones.

According to previous reports, Jones, a Sikeston, Missouri resident, was charged with murder, resisting law enforcement and auto theft after the June 2023 incident.

On June 28, Jones was driving a reported stolen 2016 Chevrolet Traverse when a pursuit began with Indiana State Police in the 2900 block of Kentucky Ave. According to previous reports, DeMareon Curry, a Sikeston, Missouri resident, as well as another teen ,were also in the car with Jones.

Troopers reportedly chased the Traverse to Ronald Reagan Parkway where Smith was attempting to deploy stop sticks near the entrance to the I-70 westbound on ramp. Officials said at the time that video from the Indiana Department of Transportation showed the Traverse swerve toward Smith as he threw the stop sticks. Smith was hit and thrown into the air and the vehicle crashed after it hit the trooper.

The documents claim that Jones, by committing murder, knowingly and intentionally killed Smith. They also claim that there was one aggravating circumstance, with Smith being a law enforcement officer acting in the course of his duty at the time of the incident.

In a statement from Hendricks County Prosecutor Loren Delp, he said detectives from the Indiana State Police have “tirelessly investigated” the case since it occurred on June 28. Recently, Delp and his deputies have examined the facts and circumstances of the case. Delp also stressed that officials have met with Smith’s widow, as well as the Indiana State Police.

“While the investigation will continue, there are many aspects that have been completed and turned over to our office,” he said. “…As a result of that process, late this afternoon, the Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office has filed, and will pursue, the sentencing enhancement of a Life Sentence Without the Possibility of Parole in this case. While the filing of this enhancement is rare, it does not change the fact that under the Indiana and United States Constitutions the defendant is, and will remain, not guilty unless and until it is proven otherwise in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.”

According to court documents, a pretrial conference for Jones is scheduled for Nov. 20 and Jones’ jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2024.

Court documents state that Curry was also charged with one count of auto theft and another count of resisting law enforcement in relation to this incident.

Curry’s pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 20 and Curry’s jury trial is scheduled for Dec. 19.

Delp said that the Hendricks County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will have no further comment in this case.