Judge Denies Venue Change in Dylan Smith Murder Case
- Nathan Springfield
- Sep 19
- 1 min read
VINCENNES, Ind. (We Are Knox County) - A judge has denied a request to move the Dylan Smith murder trial out of Knox County.
The Knox County Circuit Court office confirmed the denial to WAKC News Now.
WAKC News Now also received a copy of the court’s order on Friday.
The order states that the request was filed too late under Indiana’s rules of criminal procedure.
The judge also ruled that the supporting affidavit did not include enough specific details — such as when and how the concerns were discovered, the facts supporting a move, or why those concerns could not have been raised earlier.
The motion requesting a change of venue was filed on September 12.
Defense attorney Brock Dawson argued that widespread news coverage, community memorials, and the victim’s family connection to a sitting county judge make it unlikely an impartial jury could be selected locally.
Smith was arrested on August 5 and charged with murder.
According to police, he allegedly shot 30-year-old Taylor Hendershot in the parking lot of Cardinal Liquor in Vincennes before barricading himself in a nearby residence for several hours.
Smith appeared in court for an initial hearing on August 6 and pleaded not guilty.
A jury trial remains scheduled for November 4 at 8:30 a.m. in Knox Circuit Court.
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