Case Summary

In 2007, a Tennessee police officer approached Bruce Mendenhall’s semi-truck at a truck stop in Nashville and asked to talk to him about a case he was investigating. When Mendenhall opened his truck door, the officer observed blood and asked if he could search the truck. Mendenhall agreed, and the officer found blood-soaked women’s clothing. Mendenhall was taken into custody and interviewed, during which he stated that the blood was from a woman—later identified as Carmen Purpura—that he had picked up the night before at a truck stop in Indianapolis and that she had been shot in the head with his rifle (though he didn’t admit shooting her). Police in Indianapolis searched for Purpura’s body but never found it.

In 2008, Mendenhall was charged with murder in Marion County. The Indiana case was put on hold while Mendenhall was tried for other murders in Tennessee. In 2011, skeletal remains were found in Kentucky, which were identified as Purpura’s in 2016. Mendenhall’s Indiana trial was held in 2025, and he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 65 years, to be served consecutive to his life sentences in Tennessee. Mendenhall now appeals, arguing that Indiana did not have territorial jurisdiction, that Marion County was not the proper venue, and that the trial court erred in admitting the evidence seized from his truck because he was not given a Pirtle warning, which Indiana law requires, before he consented to the search in Tennessee.   

Bruce Mendenhall v. State of Indiana
When:FRI, FEB 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Court:Indiana Court of AppealsPanel:J. Altice
J. Vaidik
J. Bradford
Case No:25A-CR-00775Lower Case:49D27-0804-MR-77498County:MarionLocation:Supreme Court Courtroom