S’Doni Pettis Sentenced to 74 Years After Deadly Police Pursuit

 A Hendricks County judge has sentenced S’Doni Pettis to 74 years in the Indiana Department of Correction, the maximum sentence allowed under Indiana law, following a violent police pursuit that ended in a catastrophic crash and the deaths of two young children.

The sentence was imposed in Hendricks County Circuit Court. Earlier this year, Pettis pled guilty to all charges midway through his trial, and the court entered convictions on every count related to the incident.

The case stems from the morning of February 5, 2025, when Pettis, who was already on probation in Marion County for aggravated battery, stole a vehicle in Indianapolis and fled west toward Hendricks County. After an Avon police officer confirmed the vehicle was stolen and attempted a lawful traffic stop, Pettis chose to flee.

Investigators said Pettis sped westbound on U.S. 40, approaching the intersection at Ronald Reagan Parkway at extreme speeds. He ran a red light and crashed into a family’s SUV, sending it airborne and engulfing it in flames. Crash data later showed Pettis was traveling at nearly 90 miles per hour at the time of impact and never applied his brakes.

Inside the SUV were two young children—an infant and a three-year-old—who both died as a result of the crash. The children’s father, along with responding police officers, suffered serious injuries while attempting rescue efforts. A civilian bystander was also injured while helping pull a child from the burning vehicle.

Pettis later admitted he knew police were attempting to stop him and acknowledged smoking marijuana shortly before the pursuit.

Hendricks County Prosecutor Loren Delp said the outcome of the case was not a random accident but a predictable result of the defendant’s actions, emphasizing that while no sentence can undo the harm caused, the court had an obligation to hold Pettis fully accountable.

Authorities credited Avon Police, Plainfield Police, and Plainfield Fire Territory for their response and investigation, noting the lasting impact the case has had on the victims’ family, first responders, and the community.