Friends, family remember Indy man run over by suspect who stole his Jeep

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis man is in jail accused of robbery and murder following a fatal crash Thursday morning on the city's southwest side.




At the same time, friends and family remember and mourn the victim who lost his life in the senseless violence.

The crime took place just after 11 o'clock Thursday morning along Troy Avenue.




Witnesses said a would-be thief allegedly stole the victim's Jeep and then ran over the SUV's owner on purpose.




"It was senseless. All the guy had to do was drive off," said the victim's friend and longtime neighbor, Don White.

Witnesses claim the suspect circled the block before he accelerated through the grass and struck 56-year-old Robbie Vidito.




"He could have just drove away. He had the truck, wallet and billfold. The truck was full of groceries. He didn't have to kill him," said White.








Vidito loved motorcycles and was a member of the Mars Hill Charity Riders. He also loved his family, including his only daughter.

"He was the best guy you could ever meet. There are thousands of people that would say the same thing. He was a great guy," said White.




After the crash, police said the suspect ditched the Jeep and ran away on foot, while witnesses tried unsuccessfully to save the victim's life.




"These incidents tear families apart, but solving them is a group effort between police and our community," said IMPD officer Drew Brown.




IMPD credits community assistance for tracking down 24-year-old Seth McPeak the same day, leading to his arrest for murder, robbery and auto theft.

"Having that help from the community was crucial in being able to locate him and bring him into custody," said Brown.




Court records show McPeak had an active warrant for the last three weeks before the murder. That arrest warrant stemmed from domestic battery of a pregnant woman in July.




Robbie's friends and family just hope the accused killer never gets the chance to hurt anyone else ever again.




"The guy should get the max. Whatever the max is, he never needs to get out of prison," said White.




The suspect is now being held without bond pending the filing of formal charges by the prosecutor's office.




While an arrest has been made, anyone with information about this incident should contact Det. Carl Clark at the IMPD Homicide Office at (317) 327-3475, or e-mail him at Carl.Clarkii@indy.gov




Alternatively, they can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477 or (TIPS) to remain anonymous. 





via: https://fox59.com/news/friends-family-remember-indy-man-run-over-by-suspect-who-stole-his-jeep/