Grant County family demands justice after 7-year delay in murder case

MARION, Ind. — A Grant County family is demanding answers as a murder trial remains on hold nearly seven years after a man’s death.

In February 2020, DeAndre Oliver, 30, died after someone stabbed him multiple times at 20th and Meridian streets in Marion. It is located east of South Western Avenue, a commercial corridor with stores and restaurants.

Prosecutors charged Cody Hickman with Oliver’s murder in April 2021. However, more than five years after those charges were filed, the criminal case against Hickman is still pending.

Seeking answers

“I don’t want another year,” said Andrea Gibson, Oliver’s mother. “I should not be another year.”

Gibson said the wait is taking a toll on her entire family. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said.

Family and friends gathered Friday at the Grant County Courthouse in Marion to protest the delays.

“We deserve answers,” said Jerrica Oliver, Oliver’s sister. “It’s very horrible. We see cases come and go, and then there’s my brother, and they act like he doesn’t exist, like he’s just another black person out here, that his life doesn’t matter.”

Jerrica Oliver said her brother was a well-known rapper in the community. “It should not have to go on this long.”

Several of Oliver’s children attended the protest, including his 14-year-old daughter, Dreleyah.

“I feel like it’s unfair to us and we deserve to get justice for my dad,” said Dreleyah.

History of court delays

Indiana’s I-Team found that, in September 2021, prosecutors requested a delay for Hickman’s jury trial because an “essential witness” was unavailable. A judge granted the request, and Hickman was released from jail on his own recognizance on Sept. 20, 2021.

The court reset the trial for March 28, 2022.

“Since that time there have been numerous Defense filings for continuance and Court congestions entered,” Nancy E. Soultz, office manager at the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office, said in an email to Indiana’s I-Team.

Court records show Hickman’s attorneys have filed four motions for a delay since 2022: March 2022, January 2023, June 2026, and September 2026. In each motion, the deputy prosecutor did not object to the delay.

Prior conviction and early release

Hickman’s murder trial also faced delays because he was convicted and sentenced on an unrelated aggravated battery charge in December 2021. Hickman received a six-year sentence and served nearly five years in state prison.

Hickman participated in Case Plan Credit Time, a program that allows people to leave prison early. These time cuts are in addition to credits for good behavior.

On Sunday, authorities released Hickman from Pendleton Adult Correctional Facility on his own recognizance.

“It’s scary knowing his history,” Jerrica Oliver said. “I don’t think he will show up to the court date and my brother needs justice.”

Gibson is furious. “How can a judge allow that to happen?” she said. “What if that was your child?”

Indiana’s I-Team confirmed Hickman is on probation with Grant County Court Services.

“The specific conditions of supervision and related case information are subject to applicable confidentiality laws, court rules, and restrictions on the release of information,” Director Melissa Stephenson of Grant County Court Services said in an email. “Accordingly, we are limited in the information we can provide regarding individual supervision matters.”

A trial date on the horizon

Hickman’s trial is scheduled for Jan. 25. Oliver’s family is urging prosecutors and the court to stop any further delays.

“Waiting this long, that’s not fair to no one. They put family through a lot and that’s just not fair,” Jerrica Oliver said.

The I-Team reached out to Hickman’s public defender, Jerry Drook, several times but has not received a response.

Grant County Prosecutor Scott Hunt, a Republican, took office in January 2023. The prosecutor’s office provided the following statement:

“This case was filed on April 19, 2021 and an Early Trial was requested and set for on 9/20/21. Due to an essential witness being unavailable for trial the State moved to continue the trial and the Defendant was OR’d on this case. So he’s been released on this particular case since 9/20/21. The trial was then reset for 3/28/22. Since that time there have been numerous Defense filings for continuance and Court congestions entered. It is currently set for trial on 1/25/27. During this time the Defendant had another case pending under 27C01-2002-F1-3. On December 1, 2021 the Defendant was sentenced to 16 years with 6 suspended and the Defendant did that time at the Department of Correction. He recently finished his time on that case and was released from DOC. Please note that all of this occurred during the tenure of the prior administration.”

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