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Devin Xavier Myers of Muncie, Indiana, guilty of murder in the deaths of three people

MUNCIE, Ind. – A jury deliberated for about three hours Wednesday before finding a Muncie man guilty of killing three members of a local family.

In addition to the three murder charges, Devin Xavier Myers was found guilty of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, false imprisonment and obstruction of justice.

Standing between defense attorneys Joel Hand and Sam Beasley, the 30-year-old Muncie man remained composed as Judge Thomas Cannon Jr. of Delaware Circuit Court 5 read the guilty verdicts Wednesday afternoon.

After the guilty verdicts were announced, the jury was told their work was not yet finished for the day. They were to determine in a separate trial whether Myers used a firearm to commit the crimes and whether he was a habitual offender.

However, Myers and his lawyers conceded both points, ending today's proceedings.

With Wednesday's convictions and possible sentencing enhancements related to Myers' gun use and criminal record, he faces a prison sentence of more than 200 years when he is sentenced by Judge Cannon on December 20.

Myers was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Kylan Ryan Musick; Musick's 69-year-old grandfather, Malcolm Perdue; and the teen's great-aunt, Kendra Kay Swift, 51.

On the stand Tuesday, Myers admitted to fatally shooting Musick, but claimed the 19-year-old Muncie man repeatedly pointed a handgun at the defendant's head, prompting him to fire his own weapon in self-defense.

This murder occurred on July 12, 2022 in the backyard of Myers' home on South Pershing Drive. The victim's body was dumped near Prairie Creek Reservoir.

Perdue and Swift were killed early the next morning in an armed home invasion at the Musick family home on South Liberty Street.

In his closing remarks Wednesday morning, Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman told jurors that on Tuesday they watched “a tale of two Devins.”

Hoffman said “Devin the actor” was both “calm” and “pleasant” when defense attorney Joel Hand called him to the stand.

Myers claimed in part that his co-defendant, 29-year-old Daniel Jones Jr. of Muncie, forced him to take part in the armed home invasion and was also responsible for the shootings of Perdue and Swift.

Hoffman suspected that “Devin, the murderer” was being targeted under cross-examination by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Zach Craig, calling his behavior at the time “narcissistic” and “ruthless.”

Hoffman referred to the defendant as a “self-proclaimed habitual liar” while recounting the various stories Myers told police following the events leading to Musick's death.

The prosecutor said Myers got “a preview of all the goodies” when he visited Musick's home several hours before the teen was fatally shot.

The defendant then launched a plan to steal “Kyler's safe, Kyler's drugs (and) Kyler's AR-15 rifle,” Hoffman said.

The prosecutor said Myers' account of the killings at the Liberty Street home – including the claim that Swift fired the shots that struck Perdue after he briefly gained control of one of Jones' firearms – was “ridiculous nonsense.” .

In his closing remarks, defense attorney Hand urged the jury not to make decisions based on “emotions and passion.”

The attorney said Myers acted in self-defense when he shot Musick, but said the defendant and the teen had “a relationship full of friendship, love and mutual respect.”

Hand also claimed his client's co-defendant, Jones, was “the one who planned, planned and carried out this robbery.”

Jones testified Friday that he reluctantly took part in the home invasion because he feared Myers would shoot him if he didn't. He also testified that Myers killed Perdue and Swift.

Hand told jurors that Myers was guilty of only one of nine charges against him – obstruction of justice, a count related to the disposal of Musick's remains.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or [email protected].

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