In early January, an investigation began into an incident involving a couple who were confined, threatened, robbed and had their vehicle stolen. Warrants were issued. Yesterday, two suspects connected to the case were taken into custody.

William Lee “Billy” Hiatt, 45, was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail yesterday morning, Wednesday, May 13, by Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy Harvey Holt. He has a home address in Bloomington according to the jail record.

Cheyenne Maxine Howard, 21, was arrested and booked into the Greene County Jail at 10:44 yesterday morning, Wednesday, May 13, by Jasonville Police Chief Ryan Van Horn. She has a home address in Shelburn according to the jail record.

Both have been wanted on warrants for their arrest that were issued on January 31 and have been outstanding since then.

Hiatt is facing preliminary charges of:

• Criminal confinement while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony,

• Armed robbery – taking property by force or threatening use of force while armed, a Level 3 felony,

• Intimidation with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony,

• Theft with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony,

• Criminal confinement using a vehicle, a Level 5 felony,

• Auto theft – theft of entire automobile, a Level 6 felony,

• Theft with a prior conviction, a Level 6 felony, and

• Deception, a Class A misdemeanor.

Howard is facing a preliminary charge of:

• Auto theft – theft of entire automobile, a Level 6 felony.

Both cases stem from an alleged incident that occurred on January 9.

GCSD Deputy Harvey Holt, the lead investigator, and Jasonville Police Chief Ryan Van Horn were dispatched that morning to talk to a man and woman who wanted to meet at the Jasonville Police Department to report a stolen vehicle and incident of confinement and intimidation. The vehicle that was stolen was also reported as stolen to authorities in Sullivan County earlier in the morning.

When the two were interviewed separately, they both told similar detailed stories about what had happened to them starting the previous night, January 8, when they went to visit Hiatt and Howard at Hiatt’s residence. (Note: The location is not included in public record.)

While they were there, Hiatt, possibly upset thinking the man owed him some money from the past, allegedly intimidated them and threatened the man repeatedly.

Hiatt allegedly got “strange and erratic,” grabbed a club and was swinging it around, telling the man he could not leave and he was going to beat his brains in. Hiatt took the man’s clothing, his shoes, his phone, a survival bracelet, his watch, his wallet, sunglasses, flashlight, leather jacket and a few other items.

Hiatt allegedly told the woman to take off her clothes but she refused. However, he took several things from her including items out of her Jeep Wrangler, including a bag of her clothing, her backpack, her planner and a notebook, jewelry, flashlight, her cell phone and a Bible, along with a few other items. He also took the key to her Jeep.

At one point when the woman asked for her things back, Hiatt allegedly told her to take the club and beat the man with it then said, “Better yet, mash his brains into pudding,” and she could have her stuff back.

The two both said they were intimidated and scared and tried to calm the situation and do what Hiatt said. The threats and intimidations went on until around 6 a.m., when Hiatt gave the man some clothes back, but not his boots, and told them they were going for a ride. Hiatt did not bring the club but he allegedly flashed a knife at the man then clicked it into a sheath and put it in the waistband area of his pants.

Howard was allegedly present at the residence as this incident was taking place and when they went for a ride in the woman’s Jeep, the man and woman sat in the back seat and Hiatt had Howard drive. The man and woman said they drove around while Hiatt tried to get hold of someone on the phone. Then at a rural location in Sullivan County, the Jeep stopped and the man and woman were told to get out. Hiatt and Howard then drove away in the woman’s Jeep, leaving the man and woman behind.

In probable cause affidavits prepared by Deputy Holt in these cases, he cites phone records, text messages and Facebook messages that have been retrieved indicating a deal was made to sell the Jeep and the transaction took place in Bloomfield around 7 that morning. The man who police later learned bought the Jeep said Hiatt and Howard were in the Jeep at the time and he paid $1,500 in cash.

Sometime around 7:30 a.m., the man and woman had made it to Sullivan and reported the Jeep as stolen and by a little after 9 a.m., the man and woman had made their way to the Jasonville Police Department.

After the two were interviewed, a search warrant was executed at a residence and several of the items stolen from the couple were recovered. Deputies also seized wallets with cards belonging to the couple as well as a pair of garden shears, allegedly used to threaten the man at one point, and the club which was a small baseball bat.

Before 1 p.m., Deputy James Carpenter had located the Jeep traveling on State Road 48. The Jeep was pulled over and the driver, who said he had just purchased the vehicle, was arrested and charged. His case is still pending.

In the affidavit filed in Howard’s case, Deputy Holt says it was Howard who contacted the buyer and sent multiple messages trying to make the deal and sell the Jeep.

Howard’s bond has been set at $4,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of Thursday evening, she had not yet posted bond and remained in jail.

Hiatt’s bond has been set at $63,000 surety with ten percent cash allowed. As of Thursday evening, he had not yet posted bond and remained in jail.