Michigan City, Indiana – In a chilling case that shocked the community, John Hallett, 54, has been sentenced to 56 years in prison for the murder of his roommate, Paul Gonzales, in 2017. After a jury convicted him on May 16, Hallett received 55 years for the murder and an additional year for abusing Gonzales’ corpse from LaPorte Superior Court 1 Judge Jamie Oss.
The gruesome act of killing, dismembering, and disposing of Gonzales’ body parts in trash cans was uncovered after evidence showed that Hallett had choked the 64-year-old to death in the basement of their home on West Ninth Street. Despite none of Gonzales’ remains being recovered, forensic evidence gathered from the concrete floor where his body decayed preserved the tragic truth of his demise.
Living on the streets before being placed together by a homeless assistance group, the men’s dark secret stayed hidden until 2022, when Hallett called Michigan City Police to confess to the murder. Hallett claimed he killed Gonzales due to suspicions of mail theft and eviction attempts by his roommate, leading to his arrest nearly a year later once enough evidence corroborated his chilling admission.
LaPorte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan expressed satisfaction with the sentence imposed, emphasizing that justice for Gonzales and his family was paramount. With Hallett’s age decreasing the likelihood of his release, Fagan believed that serving justice to the victim was the ultimate goal.
As the case closed, the community grappled with the horror of the crime committed within their own neighborhood. The tragic tale of betrayal and violence serves as a stark reminder of the darkness that can lurk even in the most unsuspecting of places. The memory of Paul Gonzales lives on through the pursuit of justice and closure in the aftermath of such a heinous act.