An Indiana resident, Jermard Lewis, 32, is awaiting the verdict in his trial for the murder of 59-year-old Perla Nieto, a grocery store employee. The incident, which took place in December 2023, reportedly stemmed from a misunderstanding that escalated into a fatal confrontation.
On the morning of December 7, 2023, Lewis and his girlfriend were shopping at a Kroger grocery store in Waynedale, Indiana, where Nieto was employed. Lewis believed he heard his name announced over the store’s intercom system and confronted Nieto, who denied calling his name. This information was reported by a local CBS affiliate, WANE, which cited court documents and evidence presented during the trial.
Despite Nieto’s denial, Lewis remained skeptical, accusing her of being “rude” if she had indeed called his name. While Lewis insisted he was not being confrontational, other witnesses reportedly disagreed. It was also revealed during the trial that a name similar to Lewis’s was announced over the intercom.
The situation escalated when Lewis called over a store manager, who tried to calm things down. Lewis claimed in court that the manager allowed him to continue shopping, but Nieto repeatedly told him to “shut up” and asked him to leave the store.
Following the incident, Lewis and his girlfriend left the store. However, feeling disrespected by Nieto, Lewis dropped his girlfriend off at home, changed his clothes, and returned to the store approximately 35 minutes later. Lewis claimed he intended to speak with the manager again, but upon seeing Nieto first, he approached her.
Lewis admitted to stabbing Nieto during their second encounter, but denied intending to kill her. When questioned about the number of times he stabbed her with the pocket knife he kept in his car, he reportedly replied, “enough times not to care.”
Court documents reveal that Lewis’s defense team initially pursued an insanity defense, which was later withdrawn. The defense is now arguing for a manslaughter charge instead of murder, based on Lewis’s claim that he did not intend to kill Nieto.
Nieto is remembered as a “wonderful, kind, and caring wife, mother, and grandmother,” according to her obituary. The trial was set to conclude with closing arguments on Friday morning, after which the jury will deliberate.