Man who lured 3 men to remote area to show them how to turn Glock into machine gun and murdered them, sentenced to 189 years in prison

Caden Smith, a 19-year-old Indiana man, has been sentenced to 189 years in prison for the murders of three individuals when he was just 16 years old.

The victims, 17-year-old Abdulla Mubarak, 18-year-old Joseph Thomas and 22-year-old Michael James were killed in October 2021 after Smith lured them to a field under the pretense of demonstrating how to convert a Glock into a machine gun using a Glock switch. Smith used the opportunity to rob and murder them.

The triple homicide took place over two nights near the 4400 block of South Meridian Street in Indianapolis, where police found the bodies of the three victims in tall grass, along with numerous spent shell casings.

Investigators discovered through text messages that Smith had planned the murders to rob the victims. The murder weapon was later found at his home.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears emphasized the devastating impact of the unregulated sale of firearms, stating, “This significant sentence is a testament to our commitment to holding violent individuals accountable for their actions.”

Mears added that the verdict brings some measure of justice for the families of the victims, though they will never see their loved ones grow up.

The case gained attention when rumors spread of a possible serial killer due to the murders happening two days apart in a remote area. However, these rumors were quickly dispelled, and Smith was arrested as the prime suspect.

In 2022, the trial faced challenges when key evidence was initially thrown out by a judge who ruled that detectives had violated Smith’s Fourth Amendment rights during a search warrant.

Smith was briefly released on a GPS ankle monitor but was re-arrested on his 18th birthday after being found with a gun and drugs in photos on Snapchat.

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Despite these legal obstacles, Smith was found guilty, and the 189-year sentence ensures he will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murders of Mubarak, Thomas and James.

Prosecutor Mears acknowledged the long and difficult journey for the victims’ families, but credited the investigators and deputy prosecutors for their dedication in securing justice.