2 men charged for 2019 murder of man at riverbank

INDIANAPOLIS — Two individuals have been charged for the murder of a man whose body was found in an Indianapolis riverbank in 2019.

Alexander Russell, 25, and Jonathan Hayes, 28, were charged with the following:

• Two counts of Murder, a Felony
• Robbery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a Level 2 Felony

“Our Unsolved Homicide Unit detectives never stop looking for answers,” said Deputy Chief Kendale Adams.

“In this case, their determination led to the identification and arrest of two suspects connected to a 2019 murder. This arrest reflects our continued commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families, no matter how much time has passed,” he continued. 

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was dispatched on Dec. 9, 2019, at approximately 10:56 a.m. to the 700 block W Southern Ave. Upon arrival to the scene, authorities found a male facedown in a riverbank with the pockets of his sweatpants inside out at the White River around 11:03 a.m.

The victim was identified as Rodney Mitchell III, according to court documents.

After a series of interviews, domestic allegations, and video footage, Russel and Hayes were identified as the suspects for the murder.

Russell is currently serving a 25 year sentence for the attempted murder of a 16-year-old in 2024.

Learn more here.