Nathan Trapuzzano Archives

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Simeon Adams, 17, pleaded guilty Thursday in the murder of Nathan Trapuzzano, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

Trapuzzano, 24, was killed in April 2014 while on his morning walk in his neighborhood. Surveillance video showed a suspect following Trapuzzano before gunning him down. Trapuzzano was a newlywed whose wife was pregnant at the time.

Adams admitted Thursday to shooting and killing Trapuzzano. Adams, who was 16 at the time of the murder, was charged as an adult.

“We really wanted to make sure that we made a wise decision and that he’s where he belongs, behind bars, and hopeuflly this doesnt happen to another family,” Shayne Trappuzzano, Nathan’s sister, told 24-Hour News 8 Thursday evening.

“Hopefully lessons have been learned or at least, you know, it’s been realized the impact that this has had,” Shayne added.

Adams is expected to be sentenced to serve 55 years in prison.

“The conviction of Simeon Adams for this tragic and senseless crime was important for the entire community, as so many have grieved with the Trapuzzano family over the loss of Nathan,” Prosecutor Terry Curry stated. “I commend IMPD’s officers and detectives for their investigation and identification of Adams just days after the incident.”

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 24.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – There were nearly 300 people that registered for the first walk to honor Nathan Trapuzzano.

The event was Saturday, on his birthday. He would have turned 26 years old.

Trapuzzano was shot and killed while on a morning walk on April 1, 2014.

The atmosphere at the park was similar to a celebration with music and face painting.

Trapuzzano’s mother, Cheryl Trapuzzano, said Nathan loved parties. She said the last year has been difficult for her family.

“Every day is a challenge. I don’t think you could ever get over something like this,” Cheryl Trappuzzano said.

Nathan Trapuzzano’s friend Alex Audia said, “He was a really good person, naturally. He was very loyal, and giving and just a sweet person.”

Eric Anderson, also a friend of Nathan Trapuzzano, said, “He was just a great, caring guy. He was very genuine, very intelligent. He was just a really good presence.”

All of the money raised went to The Nathan Trapuzzano Memorial Foundation, which helps children who have lost a parent.

At the time of his murder, Nathan Trapuzzano was a newlywed whose wife was pregnant.

The couple’s nine-month-old daughter, Cecilia, led the nearly one mile walk while her mother, Jennifer, pushed her in a stroller.

Cheryl Trapuzzano said the walk will be an annual event.

CAMBY, Ind. (WISH) – A bike ride organized to raise money in memory of Nathan Trapuzzano was rained out on Saturday, but that didn’t stop people from donating.

A dozen people met at Heavy’s Bar and Grill for food, an auction and a lot of fun. The money raised is for The Nathan Trapuzzano Memorial Fund.

Nathan Trapuzzo, 24, was killed in April 2014 while on his morning walk in his neighborhood. Surveillance video showed a suspect following Trapuzzo before gunning him down. Trapuzzo was a newlywed whose wife was pregnant at the time.

Trapuzzano’s mother, Cheryl, said her son had a passion for children who grew up without a parent. She said that’s now her granddaughter’s reality.

She said, “You know what? Since this has happened, and it’s been more than a year ago, the support for the people around here has been tremendous. Financial support, emotional support, people in Indianapolis are wonderful.”

To donate to the fund, click here.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – On Sunday, Nathan Trapuzzano would have turned 26 years old.

On that day, the expectant father and husband’s family will honor his life with a memorial walk in his name.

Police say Trapuzzano was shot and killed by a teenager along 16th Street a little over a year ago, while he was on a morning walk.

Sunday, May 17, will mark the first ‘NateWalk,’ to raise money for the Nathan Trapuzzano Memorial Fund.

Nathan’s wife Jennifer, gave birth to their daughter, Cecilia Marie, less than a month after his death. Jennifer and Nathan’s family, from Pennsylvania, decided to start a foundation in Nathan’s name, to provide financial relief and support to children who have lost a parent.

“He was taken too early,” said Jennifer Trapuzzano. “He didn’t get to leave the impact he could have left. But we can do that for him, under his name.”

Today, Jennifer sits, with now one-year-old Cecilia. She has support from her family, who she now lives with.

She says Cecilia just started walking, and saying even more words than before. Her personality shines through.

“She’s my motivation,” says Trapuzzano.

Her reason, her motivation, her strength for the future, she says. The reason she found the strength to continue on with grad school to become a physician assistant, even after her husband’s death.

“Every time I get discouraged, or, just tired, and I feel like I can’t study anymore, I can’t write that next paper, I just put her to bed, and watch her sleep, and I just know I have to,” Trapuzzano says. “I want to provide a future for her, I want to give her the best. We lost so much and I don’t want her to lose anything else.”

This week is an emotional one for their family. Monday marked Jennifer and Nathan’s second wedding anniversary, and Sunday was Mother’s Day, and Jennifer’s graduation commencement ceremony from grad school. She decorated her cap for Nathan, wishing he was there. But she says it was looking back at Cecilia from the stage, that helped her through it.

“Walking on stage, I was sobbing. I was just so overwhelmed with pride and joy and grief, without Nate being there. My class stood up, and gave me a standing ovation, and it meant a lot. They’ve been by my side through everything, from my wedding day, to my announcement of pregnancy, to my loss of Nate, to the birth of Cecilia. And they were there by my side standing, and, that meant a lot,” she said.

What also means a lot to her, the foundation she and Nate’s family members are forming to help children like Cecilia, who’ve lost a parent.

“I was incredibly blessed after he passed, just by the outpouring of love and support, from the Indianapolis area, and across the nation,” said Trapuzzano.

“I was given very generous donations,” she added. “Just to have one less stress was such a blessing. I can never thank those [who helped] enough.”

Now she looks ahead, hoping to give a message of hope and support to those who may be suffering, as well.

“The journey of grief, it never really ends, it is up and down,” she explains. “To realize, it’s a journey, but you can make something good come out of something bad. I think that’s also what’s helped me to heal, and what’s helped to bring promise and hope to our future. This walk and foundation is how my family has chosen to do it, and I’m just proud to be a part of that. I think it’s important for anyone who is going through something find that thing that can give hope to your future.”

The Nathan Trapuzzano Memorial Foundation will host its first fundraising event, a memorial walk, on Sunday, May 17 at 1 p.m. at Edna Balz Lacy Park. NateWalk will include a walk, auction, 50/50 raffle, food, vendors, live music, and games. Online registration and donation forms are available here.

If you would like to find out more about the foundation, click here. For the NateWalk’s Facebook page, click here.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Wednesday marks one year since expectant father and husband Nathan Trapuzzano was shot and killed while on a morning walk on Indianapolis’ west side.

Now, his family has formed a non-profit in his honor, to provide financial relief and support to children who have lost a parent.

Trapuzzano was just 24 years old, and a newlywed when he was killed. His wife, Jennifer, gave birth to their daughter Cecilia Marie, later that April.

The community came together after that to support Jennifer and Cecilia, raising thousands of dollars to support them. Now, they’re hoping to do the same for others.

The second annual Trapuzzano Benefit Ride is scheduled for the day before, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 at Heavy’s Bar & Grill in Camby. Kickstands up at noon. Proceeds from this year’s ride will also go to The Nathan Trapuzzano Memorial Foundation as well. Trapuzzano grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh. He went to Ball State, where he met Jennifer. He was working as a computer programmer in Indianapolis.24-Hour News 8 spoke with Nathan’s widow Jennifer in February about their daughter, preventing crime, and a bill at the Statehouse created in Nathan’s honor as well.

If you would like to find out more about the foundation, click here. For the NateWalk’s Facebook page, click here.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – It’s been less than a year since Nathan Trapuzzano was shot to death on a morning walk, and now his widow says she supports a bill that’s been named in his honor.

“I don’t want any other family to suffer how we’ve suffered,” Jennifer Trapuzzano said. “If there’s something I can do, I’m going to be right there in the forefront.”

Senate Bill 279 is known as the Nathan Trapuzzano bill. It’s co-authored by Senator Jim Merritt, and it was created after a crime that shook the community. Trapuzzano, 24, was shot and killed while on a morning walk on the city’s west side last April. Police officials said a 16-year-old was responsible for the crime.

His wife, Jennifer, was pregnant with their first daughter when Nathan was killed.

“If there’s something I can do, I’m going to be right there in the forefront.”

Today, their daughter Cecilia is nine months old, a daredevil who is always on the go, says her mom.

“We pray for him, and we talk to him together,” explained Jennifer. “Especially when she’s being crazy, I ask him for help.”

Jennifer says for her, these days without Nathan, waking up each day is different. She balances motherhood with grad school.

“There are some days, on the drive to the clinical site, a certain song comes on, or I see something or think of something, and I’m crying again. Other days she’s such a handful, she brings joy, and fun memories, and it’s a good day,” said Jennifer.

She says she supports Senate Bill 279, the bill written after her husband’s death. The bill toughens penalties for crimes involving a gun. It also would require anyone 14 and older to be tried in adult court if charged with using a gun in a crime, or if they carry a handgun without a license.

“I don’t think there’s any true answer of how you can prevent crime from happening,” said Jennifer. “When I first heard about the bill, my first thought, and still my current thought, is, it’s a start. It’s not the start and the end, but it’s a start to get something going within our city. We’ve had an increase in crime, and so many families have been affected.

“I know the pain. I know the grief, I know the challenges, and I would never wish this upon anyone.”

“I wanted to raise awareness that we can make a change. It may start with this bill, this may be just a small step, but that’s not the last step. I think there are a lot of things we as a community can do to keep preventing crime, and keep making our city safer. … I know the pain. I know the grief, I know the challenges, and I would never wish this upon anyone,” she said.

Senate Bill 279 was referred to committee. There has not yet been a hearing on the bill. Merritt says the committee is looking into what new tools the juvenile court may need and other ways to keep parents accountable.

Jennifer says ultimately, she hopes that preventing crime will start at home.

“I think there’s a lot anybody can step up and do. I think a lot of crime starts with initial environmental factors,” she said.

She adds, her husband had an emphasis on the role of the father in the family. She hopes others will step up to be that father figure to those who may not have one, whether that’s at a church group, youth group or boys and girls club.

It’s her faith, family and the support from the community that have helped her get by daily, Jennifer says. Her little one remains a joyful reminder of the moments to come.

“To me, I look back and I think how Nate must be so proud of me, to have continued,” Jennifer says, “For those of us who’ve lost someone, just that realization can be enough sometimes, to make them proud.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The widow of an Indianapolis man who was shot to death during a morning walk last year says she strongly supports a new bill named after her late husband. Senate Bill 279 is known as the Nathan Trapuzzano bill.

It’s co-authored by Senator Jim Merritt, and it was created after a crime that shook the community. Trapuzzano, 24, was shot and killed while on a morning walk on the city’s west side last April. Police officials said a 16-year-old was responsible for the crime.

His wife, Jennifer Trapuzzano, was pregnant with their first daughter when Nathan was killed. Jennifer Trapuzzano recently wrote a blog post, letting her followers know how they can get involved.

Part of the legislation would require anyone 14 and older to be tried in adult court if charged for using a gun in the crime.

Jennifer writes in her blog, I “can’t say for certain that had this bill been in place last year that it would have prevented Nate’s murder. I can say this – that if it can even save one family from the devastation that we have had to suffer, then it is worth every single minute of my time, and yours, to get passed. And even though this won’t solve anything overnight, I believe it is a step in the right direction. There are many things that still need to be improved within our city to decrease our crime rate, but it starts here and it starts with us.”

Trapuzzano goes on to explain how people can support the bill and contact the correct legislators.

The bill is currently in committee.

Click here to read Jennifer’s full blog post.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The General Assembly is expected to ramp up productivity following Tuesday night’s State of the State address.

The long budget session could include time and attention paid to several bills filed for consideration.

Hot topics in 2015 include legalizing medical marijuana, a push for Sunday alcohol sales and permitting caterers and florists to refuse to take part in same-sex weddings.

A crime that shook the Indianapolis community in 2014 has inspired a bill in the State Senate to toughen gun laws. It was filed a Senate Bill 279 but Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, refers to what he co-authored as the “Nathan Trapuzzano bill.”

Trapuzzano, 24, was gunned down on an April morning while out for a walk on 16th Street. A 16-year-old has been accused in the crime.

Part of the Trapuzzano legislation would require anyone 14 and older to be tried in an adult court if charged for using a gun.

Another idea making its way through the legislature could put a damper on drivers’ habits. Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus has written a bill that would require hands-free or voice-operated technology when making calls while driving a vehicle.

The only exception written into Smith’s bill is if drivers need to call 911 to report a “bona fide emergency.”

The Roads and Transportation committee will ultimately consider the bill, a hearing for which has not been scheduled.

The General Assembly is in session through April 29.