Terre Haute man dies after violent robbery, 3 suspects in jail

Vigo Co. Jail

By Lucy Perry 
Indiana Central News
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UPDATED
Two Terre Haute men and a Terre Haute woman are facing several charges in connection to a robbery and battery that recently left one man hospitalized with serious injuries.  The victim, Dwayne "Frenchie" French, 51, also of Terre Haute, has since died from injuries suffered in the incident.

According to Public Information Officer Ryan Adamson, of the Terre Haute Police Department, all three suspects' charges have been upgraded to murder.
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• Shane J. Johnson, 29, was booked into the Vigo County Jail Friday (Aug. 28) around 2 p.m. He is charged with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, armed robbery, aggravated battery and battery by means of a deadly weapon.
• Loghan Jane Elizabeth Morris, 25, was booked into the Vigo Co. Jail Thursday (Sept. 3) around 11 p.m. She is also charged with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, armed robbery, aggravated battery and battery by means of a deadly weapon.

• ​Jeffrey W. Recupido, 33, was booked into the Vigo County Jail Thursday (Sept.3) around 10 p.m. He is charged with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, armed robbery, aggravated battery and battery by means of a deadly weapon.

French died in the hospital Wednesday.

French/Submitted photo

​The Terre Haute Police Department investigation began Aug. 21, when emergency crews were dispatched to the residence around 6:15  a.m.  

French didn't see what was coming as he went about his usual morning routine.

According to the probable cause affidavit, filed by Det. Kenneth Murphy, of the Terre Haute Police Department, French was able to explain what had happened to him, just before he lost consiousnous after the incident.

He told officers he was struck in the head with a blunt object.

He noticed around $1,500 in cash was missing from his wallet, Murphy notes, adding that French lost consciounous during the interview and was transported to an Indianapolis hospital, due to the nature of his injuries -- including a broken skull and brain bleed.

French was getting ready to get on his motorcycle, which he parked under the carport at his Ash Street home, when he was reportedly attacked from behind. It is believed that Recupido, Johnson and Morris are the three suspects armed with baseball bats that morning. They fled southbound on N. 13th Street in a black passenger car, according to a neighbor. The neighbor described the suspects as one female and two males.

The neighbor went to check the area after seeing the car leave and found the victim on the ground, bleeding. The motorcycle was still running. She called 911 and held a rag to his head until emergency crews arrived.

Since the incident, THPD has received multiple tips on the case, including names of other possible suspects. According to that information, the suspects had bragged about the battery and robbery to  multiple sources.

​According to a GoFund me page set up on his behalf, family and friends are raising money for funeral and related expenses.  , more than $900 has been donated to the fund at this time.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.