Teen pleads guilty to murder in deadly home invasion

ELKHART, Ind. – The teenager charged in the death of 76-year-old Norma Hopper, who was killed during a home invasion, pleaded guilty Thursday to her murder, according to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

On December 21, 2012, Norma Hopper of Elkhart called the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department to report someone ringing her doorbell in the early morning hours.

Deputies arrived, checked the area but found nothing out of the ordinary.

A few hours later, in the morning, family members found Hopper dead in her home.

During the investigation, deputies learned 17-year-old Luis Bailey rang Hopper’s doorbell to see if anyone was hope. Then a little while later, broke into Hopper’s home, beat her in her bed with a fence post and then searched her home for money and her car keys, reports said.

When Bailey heard Hopper moving around, he beat her again until she was dead, according to court reports.

Bailey told deputies he wanted the money and the car so he could buy marijuana.

The car was found abandoned in a field near Cassopolis Michigan.

Bailey led deputies to the fence post he allegedly used to kill Hopper.

Bailey pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Elkhart Circuit Court.

The state required the plea of guilty would only be agreed upon with a stipulated sentence of 65 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed.

Bailey will be sentenced May 30.