Dad suspected of murdering 13-month-old son, shooting mom in face; authorities won't press charges, so mom is suing (Gary, Indiana)

Dad TERRY BETHEL (aka TERRY NOEL) is strongly suspected in the murder of his 13-month-old son and and a near critical assault on the mother in January 2008. It is also said that dad's brother participated in the attack. The brother apparently shot Mom in the face and then fled in Mom's car with the little boy still in the back seat. Dad had scheduled a visit with the boy for that time. A few minutes later, the police found the car a few blocks away. The little boy had been shot in the face and the groin, and died shortly thereafter.

It appears that this was a case where Mom was pressing for child support, and Daddy didn't want any part of it. Mom and her family had also received death threats.

But the prosecutors have dithered, and no criminal charges have been filed--they want "more evidence." So Mom has decided slap a civil law suit against Dad and his brother.

http://www.post-trib.com/news/lake/1670253,gshaw0717.article

Mom sues boy's father, uncle

July 17, 2009

By Lori Caldwell, Post-Tribune staff writer


GARY--A civil lawsuit filed Thursday accuses young Josiah Shaw's father and uncle of conspiring to kill him and wound his mother.

Kwana Shaw, who was critically wounded in the Jan. 28, 2008, shooting, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Lake Superior Court seeking compensation for the loss of her 13-month-old son and the cost of her physical and emotional recovery.

"My goal is to get justice for Josiah Shaw and Kwana Shaw in any form available. We're looking for someone to be responsible," Miller attorney Darnail Lyles said.

The child's father, Terry Bethel, also known as Terry Noel, of Portage, had scheduled a visit with Josiah and knew where he and his mother would be that afternoon, the lawsuit states.

Kwana Shaw identified Bethel's brother, Joe Noel, also known as Sean Noel, in a photo line-up as the masked man who ran up to her outside her friend's Lancaster apartment, shot her and fled in her car with Josiah in the back seat.

Minutes later, police found the vehicle a few blocks away. Inside, Josiah had been shot in the face and groin and died a short time later.

The lawsuit alleges the brothers worked together to incapacitate Kwana and kidnap the boy "to batter and cause the death of Baby Shaw." Lyles notes nothing was taken from car during the theft.

No criminal charges have been filed. Detectives have presented a case to prosecutors who want more evidence.

"It sits in a stack of files gathering dust," Lyles said. "We're looking for someone to be responsible."

Merrillville attorney Scott L. King, representing Terry Bethel, said he was unaware of the lawsuit.

Days before Josiah was killed, Bethel had been ordered to begin paying child support. The child's family reported Bethel made threats to them.