A Vigo County man was sentenced on Monday, November 2, 2026, for the battery of a 73-year-old neighbor who later died, according to WTHI-TV 10[1]. The battery happened on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at apartments on St. Mary's Road in Vigo County.
Robert Gibson, 73, told police that Larry Norris, now 70, struck him after a disagreement. A jury convicted Norris in August 2026 of aggravated battery, involuntary manslaughter, methamphetamine and marijuana possession, and resisting law enforcement. The reports state a total sentence of 16 years, with 10 years executed and six years on probation. WTHI's headline describes it as a 10-year prison sentence.
The reports differ about what followed
The sources do not give the same account of what happened after the battery. A WTWO report syndicated by Yahoo News[2] says Gibson initially refused care, went to Union Hospital in Terre Haute the next day, and died on October 12, 2025, from complications of a blunt force closed head injury. That report says the coroner ruled the death a homicide. WTHI says Gibson was found dead in his apartment the next day.
The Vigo County Sheriff's Office investigated, and Norris was arrested the same day as the battery. Because the published accounts conflict, the difference should not be treated as resolved.
What victims and families can do next
After an assault, you should get medical care promptly, even when an injury initially seems minor. You should also report the assault to police, keep the case number, and retain treatment records and bills. More general guidance about organizing records is available in the firm's article on evidence that can support an Indiana injury claim.
If your family loses a loved one after an assault, you can ask the prosecutor's victim assistance office about the criminal case and restitution. A criminal prosecution and a civil claim are separate, so you may also want to learn how an Indiana wrongful death claim works.
Why the Vigo County location matters
The battery happened at an apartment complex on St. Mary's Road in Vigo County. The Vigo County Sheriff's Office investigated, and the Vigo County Prosecutor handled the criminal case. A civil case is usually filed in the county where the injury happened or where a defendant lives.
A criminal conviction does not automatically resolve every issue in a civil case. Indiana's wrongful death statutes, including Ind. Code 34-23-1-1, allow certain claims when a death is caused by another person's wrongful act. Ind. Code 34-23-1-2 addresses deaths of adults without a spouse or dependents. Most Indiana personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. The firm's guide to Indiana wrongful death filing periods provides additional general information.
No source reported facts about the apartment property's security, and none suggested that anyone other than the person convicted was responsible. Responsibility should not be extended beyond the facts supported by the public reporting.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps families understand how a potential wrongful death claim may proceed alongside a criminal case, what records matter, and which deadlines may apply. You can request a free case evaluation. No outcome can be promised in any case.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation or related proceedings may remain ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
