A 20-page opinion from the Indiana Court of Appeals means a former Greencastle and Terre Haute man will continue to serve nearly 90 years in prison for a 2020 murder.

John Gonzalez, 30, was found guilty in a 2021 jury trial in Putnam County of the murder of Lisa Attkisson at her Greencastle home.

Gonzalez was eventually apprehended in Illinois after the murder was discovered.

The conviction has been upheld by Indiana Court of Appeals.

The Court of Appeals affirmed the results of the local trial in a conclusion that read:

While Gonzalez has waived his challenge to the trial court’s denial of his motion for change of venue, his claim also fails on the merits because the record does not indicate the jury was unable to render an impartial verdict.  Moreover, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in its finding of aggravating factors because the factors were supported by the record and not improper as a matter of law.  Finally, Gonzalez’s sentence is not inappropriate given the nature of his offense and his character. 

Gonzalez had previous convictions for robbery in Fountain County and sexual battery in Vigo County.