Evansville man found guilty of murder in 2023 killing of two men on city's West Side

EVANSVILLE — A Vanderburgh County jury found an Evansville man guilty of two counts of murder Wednesday in connection to the shooting deaths of two men in 2023.

John Cameron Parker was arrested in October last year and accused of having conspired to rob and kill 31-year-old Michael Blankenship Jr. of Evansville, and 37-year-old Mitchell Greathouse of Newburgh. The two were found dead inside a home in the 2600 block of Mt. Vernon Avenue.

Wednesday, a jury found him guilty of killing both men after three days in court. Court records show Parker will be held in jail until his sentencing at 10 a.m. July 23.

Parker is one of three men who face charges in this case. Caden Wayne Harms reached a plea agreement on two murder charges in May and was sentenced to 45 years in jail on each count to be served concurrently.

The third man, Richard Dee Garrett, has a change of plea and sentencing filed for Aug. 16 in Vanderburgh County Superior Court. He was the first arrested by police.

Harms turned himself in to officers shortly after the killings and later consented to a police interview. Harms reportedly corroborated aspects of Garrett's account to police, while also admitting that his and Parker's plan was to commit at least one murder from the start.

"He reported that Parker, his cousin, was responsible for killing both victims," his arrest affidavit states. "Harms admitted that Parker was initially going to the residence to kill Blankenship, but (that) he asked him to at least get something from it and suggested a robbery."

Harms reportedly said he, along with Parker, conspired to plan the killing and robbery before they called Garrett and asked for a ride. After the shooting, Harms said he burned clothing and other items that were present at the scene and buried the murder weapon in a wooded area behind his house.

In Michael Blankenship's obituary he is said to have had a passion for skateboarding, bike riding, guitar, nature and spending time with loved ones.

"He was an animal lover, outgoing, adventurous, compassionate, and always willing to lend a helping hand," it states.

He left behind three daughters and multiple other family members.

Mitchell Greathouse was remembered in his obituary for his "contagious smile and his love of dance."

He loved golfing, and leaves behind a son he liked to take fishing, and many other family members.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: John Cameron Parker found guilty in West Side murder in Evansville