Murder suspect changes his mind moments before sentencing

HARRISON COUNTY, IN (WAVE) - A surprise decision by a man accused of murder, moments before he was set to be sentenced, stunned a courtroom Thursday afternoon.

Austin Scott faced spending the rest of his life in prison after he plead guilty to murdering Asenath Arnold, 57 and her husband, Gary Henderson, 70 as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. On Thursday, however, he told the judge he wanted to take back that plea, stating he'd been pressured into pleading guilty.

Prosecutors objected, but the judge allowed Scott the time to enter the withdrawal in writing, as required by law. The judge has the option to accept his withdrawal or not.

Prosecutor J. Otto Schalk is now preparing for trial. He said the withdrawal was a total surprise to him and the victims' families. Schalk says there's never been a question about guilt, and is flabbergasted as to the change.

Scott faced the possibility of the death penalty before the plea deal was reached. It would be the first death penalty case in Harrison County.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Teens first to face death penalty in Harrison County]

Scott's defense attorneys declined comment about his decision.

Scott is one of two defendants accused in the brutal murders of Arnold and Henderson. Kevin Andrew Schuler is also accused. They were both 18 at the time.

The couple was found in their Greenville home Aug. 3, 2013. Arnold was beaten to death in her bed with a wooden object. Henderson was stabbed to death.

[PREVIOUS STORY: Teen suspects enter pleas in Harrison Co. double murder]

Detectives called their murders a "robbery gone bad."

They said Scott and Schuler entered the home in the early morning through an unlocked door. They later found the murder weapons, pills and stolen guns in nearby corn fields and creeks.

The couple was well known in the community. They ran a pony service at Joe Huber's Family Farm.

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