LAFAYETTE, IN – The Indiana judge who presided over the bizarre Natalia Grace adoption case was shot along with his wife at their home Sunday afternoon, and police are still hunting for whoever pulled the trigger.
Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer, 66, took a bullet to the arm. His wife Kimberly was shot in the hip. Both are recovering in stable condition.
The shooting happened shortly after 2 p.m. at the couple’s Lafayette residence. Officers responding to the scene found shell casings but no suspect.
The FBI has joined local and state agencies in the investigation, which has produced few public leads so far. Authorities haven’t identified any suspects or offered any theories about motive.
Meyer became nationally known for handling the Natalia Grace case, a wild custody dispute involving a Ukrainian orphan that some alleged was actually an adult posing as a child. The case generated headlines around the world and spawned a documentary series.
Whether the shooting has any connection to that case or Meyer’s other judicial work remains unclear. Police aren’t saying much.
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush issued a statement urging state judges to “remain vigilant in your own security” following the attack.
“Every available resource is being used to apprehend the individual or individuals responsible for this senseless unacceptable act of violence,” Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said.
Meyer had previously served as a Lafayette city council member and public defender before taking the bench. He announced in December that he wouldn’t seek reelection to his judicial position.
The judge and his wife released a statement thanking the medical team and community for their support. They expressed confidence that investigators will solve the case.
