The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office has honored two young brothers for extraordinary bravery after a man reportedly broke into their Mulberry home and violently attacked their mother.
According to investigators, Plainfield Police were called to the home after a report of a burglary that left the homeowner injured. Deputies learned that the suspect, identified as Gary Richards, allegedly slipped into the house through a window after knocking a fan out of the frame. Once inside, police say Richards pulled the woman from her bed, threw her to the floor, and began beating her while her sons, Hudson and Heath, were asleep nearby.
One of the boys ran for help, alerting a neighbor before returning to the house. Together, the brothers managed to push the attacker out of the home while they waited for police to arrive — an act deputies described as “immense bravery.”
Richards fled the scene but was later captured after a lengthy pursuit. During the investigation, authorities learned he was connected to a stolen vehicle out of Tippecanoe County and had outstanding warrants in both Tippecanoe and Hendricks counties. He had also recently bonded out of the Jennings County Jail on an unrelated operating-while-intoxicated charge.
To recognize their courage, Sheriff Rich Kelly presented Hudson and Heath with personalized Medals of Bravery — the highest honor the sheriff’s office awards. The brothers also received a new TV, gift cards, and sheriff’s office apparel.
“These young men showed immense strength and courage in the face of an unthinkable event,” Sheriff Kelly said.
Richards is now being held in the Clinton County Jail with no bond. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2026, followed by a jury trial on Jan. 28