JASON HORNE FOUND GUILTY OF MURDERING THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD DESPITE ATTEMPTING TO COVER IT UP AS A SUICIDE

Evansville, IN – Prosecutor Diana Moers announces that on May 23, 2025, Defendant Jason Horne was found guilty of Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon, a Level 4 felony, after a week-long jury trial. The Defendant also admitted to a Firearm Enhancement. The Honorable Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Reed of the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court presided.

On March 14, 2024, a 911 call came in from a 9-year-old boy stating that his mother was dead and that she was lying on the ground at 1624 S. Morton Avenue. Police arrived and cleared the home. The victim was identified as Jennifer Grace (Gorecki). The boy had been playing in the lawn of his grandmother’s nearby house when his father, Jason Horne, yelled out the front door at him for help and told him that his mother was dead. Horne claimed to the grandmother that the victim had killed herself.

Horne’s story began to crumble immediately. When he spoke to police, he acted like he did not know what happened, which was plainly undercut by the statements of his son and the grandmother. During an interview with the police, he admitted that the firearm used in the incident belonged to him and that he and the victim, who was his girlfriend, were alone in the house. He eventually also said that he and the victim got into an argument and that he went into a rage. When confronted as to how he could be unaware of a gunshot in the house, he responded, “It’s none of my business.” Horne’s criminal history includes being a serious violent felon with a prior conviction for strangulation.

The evidence at trial was overwhelming. Horne and the victim were the only persons in the house. There were no signs of forced entry or that any valuable items were stolen. The firearm used in the murder was placed on a bed approximately 5 to 10 feet away from the victim’s body, which begs the question of how she could have placed it there after she allegedly shot herself. The forensic pathologist testified that there was no pattern or gun stamp on the skin reflecting a contact gunshot wound, which is the typical wound present in self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The firearms expert testified that the victim’s shirt did not show soot, which would be expected to be present if the firearm had been discharged at 6 inches or less. DNA belonging to Horne was present on the firearm and no one else’s. The victim’s DNA was also present on Horne’s pants via blood.

The jury took about 4.5 hours to review the evidence and come to a decision to find Horne guilty of both Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon.

Prosecutor Moers stated: “This case tragically involves a nine-year-old child who lost his mother to domestic violence and was a witness to her murder. The Defendant has taken a life into his own hands and now her family, friends, and son are without her.  I am proud of my office and law enforcement who left no stone unturned in this case—we utilized testimony, DNA evidence, ballistics evidence and testimony from the forensic pathologist to unravel the lie that Jason Horne constructed and secure a conviction.

Evansville Police Department Detective Arnie Juncker conducted a thorough investigation, and my deputies, Keaton Maurer and Ian Blair, worked hard to ensure the evidence and testimony was presented efficiently to the jury. I commend my staff of investigators and victim advocates who worked as a team to secure this important conviction for justice. Our thoughts will always be with her son who was tragically involved in this case and was brave in calling for help.”

Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2025, in front of the Honorable Magistrate Judge Ryan C. Reed of the Vanderburgh County Circuit Court. A murder conviction carries a possible sentence of 45–65 years in prison, and the firearm enhancement adds 5–20 years, for a total possible sentence of 50–85 years.