Man Admits to Killing 74-Year-Old Realtor and Leaving Her Body in Basement

A convicted felon who had been out of prison for just six months has pleaded guilty to murdering a well-known Indiana real estate agent, whose body was discovered in the basement of her home in a case that has raised serious questions about the release of violent offenders.

Jamerus Parkman, 35, pleaded guilty Friday, October 23, to murder and burglary in the death of Susan Haynie, a 74-year-old grandmother and longtime Evansville resident.

The guilty plea came just days before Parkman was scheduled to stand trial, bringing a major development in a case that has shaken the southern Indiana community and helped inspire a new state law.

Haynie was found dead August 27, 2025, after police responded to a reported medical emergency at her home in the 3300 block of East Gum Street.

When officers arrived shortly before 5 p.m., they discovered her body in the basement. Investigators later determined that she had been strangled.

Detectives initially had few answers about what happened inside the home, but evidence soon pointed toward Parkman, a man with a troubling criminal history who had recently returned to the community.

According to investigators, Parkman entered Haynie’s house through an unlocked door before attacking her.

Police connected him to the crime through physical evidence and electronic records, including information from a tablet that allegedly placed him near Haynie’s property around the time of her death.

Detectives also recovered evidence from a hotel room where Parkman had been staying.

As the investigation progressed, authorities discovered that his movements in the neighborhood had already attracted attention.

Surveillance recordings reportedly showed Parkman entering residential yards in the weeks before Haynie’s murder. Investigators also linked him to suspected vehicle burglaries and an incident in which someone attempted to enter a home while wearing a mesh covering over his head.

But perhaps the most disturbing revelation involved his previous convictions.

Between 2008 and 2010, Parkman committed a series of violent offenses that included burglary, robbery and attempted rape.

In one of those earlier incidents, a woman reported that he entered her home, forcibly removed some of her clothing and attempted to sexually assault her.

Parkman was eventually sentenced to 35 years in prison for his crimes.

However, he was released on parole in February 2025 after serving approximately 13 years.

Just six months later, Haynie was dead.

The circumstances prompted outrage from residents and victims of Parkman’s previous offenses, some of whom questioned why a man convicted of such serious crimes had been released so much earlier than his original sentence suggested.

For Haynie’s family, the revelation made an already devastating loss even more difficult to comprehend.

Parkman initially denied involvement in her death and pleaded not guilty after his arrest.

But with his trial scheduled to begin Monday, October 26, he changed his plea and admitted guilt to murder and burglary.

His decision means the case will move directly toward sentencing rather than proceeding through a jury trial.

Parkman is scheduled to return to Vanderburgh Superior Court on December 2, when a judge will determine his punishment.

The killing has already resulted in changes to Indiana law.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers approved House Enrolled Act 1250, legislation introduced in response to Haynie’s death and concerns about how communities are notified when serious violent offenders leave prison.

The law requires the Indiana Department of Correction to provide advance notice to local law enforcement officials and prosecutors before certain violent offenders are released.

It also strengthens efforts to inform registered crime victims about offenders returning to their communities.

Gov. Mike Braun attended a ceremonial signing of the legislation in Evansville in May, recognizing Haynie and the family members who helped advocate for the changes.

Supporters hope the law will give police and communities more time to prepare when individuals with serious violent criminal histories are released.

For those who knew Haynie, however, her legacy extends far beyond the legislation bearing her name.

She spent 28 years working in real estate, helping families across southwestern Indiana buy and sell homes.

Over the course of her career, she guided more than 2,000 clients through the process and developed a reputation for her patience, generosity and dedication.

Friends remembered her as someone who loved entertaining, bringing people together and making ordinary occasions feel special.

Her children and grandchildren were especially important to her.

Known affectionately as “Queenie” by her grandchildren, Haynie rarely missed their sporting events and took enormous pride in their accomplishments.

Her family described a woman whose home was always welcoming and whose kindness made others feel like they belonged.

That is how loved ones hope she will be remembered, rather than solely for the violence that ended her life.

Parkman’s guilty plea has brought the family closer to the conclusion of a criminal case that began more than a year ago.

And while the upcoming sentencing may provide a measure of accountability, those who loved Haynie are left with a loss that no court decision can undo.