“
Yesterday during Officer Todd Click's testimony in the #Delphi case, Click mentioned a phone of Johnny Messer's.
@HoosierColdCase found the miscellaneous criminal cause opened to obtain a search warrant. I've attached Officer Click's affidavit for the warrant here, which seems to track with his testimony.”
Copypasta of warrant:
1/30/2019 11:54 AM Scanned
STATE OF INDIANA COUNTY OF RUSH IN THE MATTER OF AN INVESTIGATION BY THE RUSHVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
) SS:
IN THE RUSH SUPERIOR COURT
2019 TERM
AFFIDAVIT OF PROBABLE CAUSE IN SUPPORT OF SEARCH WARRANT
Comes now your Affiant, Major Todd A. Click, being duly sworn upon his Oath as a Police Officer with the Rushville Police Department, swears and/or affirms that the following statement is true:
- I have been employed as a Police Officer with the Rushville Police Department since May 2001.
- I currently serve as Assistant Chief of Police and hold the rank of Major where I am responsible for supervising major criminal investigations, and I have served in this capacity since January 1", 2012.
- I have extensive training and experience conducting major criminal investigations. I served as Detective for the Rushville Police Department from August 2008 until December 31, 2011.
- In August 2018, I began providing investigative assistance to investigators working the double homicide of A.W. and L.G. in Delphi, IN. During the course of this investigation, I learned that Johnny Messer and Eric Basham were involved in a kidnapping that occurred in Indianapolis, IN.
I had spoken with Taylor Homaday, Johnny Messer's ex-girlfriend. Taylor told me that Johnny Messer and Eric Basham had gone to Indianapolis, IN on December 29th, 2017, to purchase methamphetamine.
Taylor told me that Johnny had been in contact with a guy she thought was named "Mike". Taylor told me that Johnny Messer and Eric Basham met with "Mike" and gave him $4000.00 to purchase methamphetamine. Taylor told me that "Mike" failed to return to where Johnny Messer and Eric Basham were, and "Mike" had essentially stole their $4000.00. Taylor told me that Johnny Messer kidnapped a friend of "Mike". Taylor told me that the friend went by the street name of "Weiner", Taylor told me that Johnny Messer kidnapped "Weiner" at gunpoint until he either got his $4000.00 back or he got $4000.00 worth of methamphetamine. Taylor told me that she had previously installed a spyware program on Johnny Messer's cell phone that allowed her to listen to Johnny's surroundings through the speaker on his cell phone. Taylor told me that she was listening to the kidnapping as it was happening. Taylor told me that she could hear "Weiner" begging Johnny Messer not to kill him.
In November 2018, a Search Warrant was obtained through Vigo County, IN for Taylor Hornaday's cell phone. This Search Warrant was in conjunction with the Delphi double homicide investigation. During the search of Taylor Hornaday's cell phone, recordings of Johnny Messer's cell phone calls were found. One of those recordings was of Johnny Messer talking to someone regarding the theft of his $4000.00.
The phone call recording corroborated Taylor's report of the kidnapping in Indianapolis.
On January 15, 2019, I went to Putnamville Correctional Facility and interviewed Eric Basham. Eric Basham confirmed that the kidnapping took place. Eric Basham told me that he had recently gotten a large monetary settlement. Eric Basham told me that he and Johnny Messer had gone to Indianapolis to purchase $4000.00 worth of methamphetamine. Eric Basham told me that he and Johnny Messer made contact with one of Johnny's "connections". Eric Basham told me that he gave Johnny's "connection" $4000.00, and "this guy" was supposed to come back and give them $4000.00 worth of methamphetamine. Eric Basham told me that "this guy" stole his money. Eric Basham told me that Johnny Messer grabbed "this guy's" friend, "Weiner", at gunpoint and put him in the truck. Eric Basbam told me that Johnny Messer had a 380 handgun, but that he didn't have any bullets for the gun. Eric Basham told me that Johnny was trying to use "Weiner" as "leverage" to either get the $4000.00 back or get their methamphetamine. Eric Basham told me that he tried to convince Johnny Messer several times to "let this guy go" but Johnny refused. Eric Basham told me that "Weiner" was able to find them a supplier for $4000.00 worth of methamphetamine. Eric Basham told me that Johnny Messer released "Weiner" once they got the drugs.
On January 28, 2019, I was contacted by Taylor Horaday. Taylor told me that she was cleaning her house today and found an old cell phone. Taylor told me that she thought that this cell phone belonged to her ex-boyfriend, Johnny Messer. Taylor told me that she entered the cell phone and confirmed that the cell phone belonged to Johnny Messer. Taylor told me that she also found text messages in the phone regarding Johnny's involvement in the kidnapping that occurred in Indianapolis.
I have Probable Cause to believe that evidence of the crime of kidnapping may be stored within the cellular telephone that is described as blue, Samsung Galaxy J1 cell phone belonging to Johnny Messer. I respectfully request that a Search Warrant be issued to search for, seize and analyze data that may be stored within the cellular telephone's Contact List, Incoming and Outgoing Call History, Incoming and Outgoing Text Message History, Photo Gallery, Notes, and any and all areas where digital media may be stored.
I affirm, under penalties of perjury, that the information provided in this affidavit is true and accurate.
01/30/19
Date
Major Todd A. Click
Rushville Police Department