An Indiana man is now facing the possibility of a life-changing verdict after being accused of fatally stabbing a grocery store employee during a heated dispute last December.
The Incident at Kroger
On December 7, 2023, 32-year-old Jermard Lewis was shopping with his girlfriend at a Kroger in Waynedale, Indiana, when he believed he heard his name called over the store intercom.
He confronted 59-year-old employee Perla Nieto, who denied calling his name. Witnesses later said that a name similar to “Lewis” had been called, not his.
Lewis allegedly told Nieto that if she had called him, it was “rude.” While Lewis insisted he wasn’t being aggressive, others described him as confrontational. A manager intervened and told Lewis he could continue shopping, but tensions grew when Nieto reportedly told him to “shut up” and leave.
The Deadly Confrontation
Lewis and his girlfriend left the store, but the argument continued to weigh on him. He dropped his girlfriend at home, changed clothes, and returned to the Kroger about 35 minutes later.
Lewis said he went back to speak with the manager, but upon seeing Nieto first, he confronted her again. He admitted to putting a hand on her shoulder before she allegedly swung at him. At that point, he pulled out a pocketknife he kept in his car and stabbed her multiple times.
When asked in court how many times he stabbed Nieto, Lewis chillingly replied, “enough times not to care.”
Defense and Trial Arguments
Lewis admitted to stabbing Nieto but testified that he did not intend to kill her. His defense team initially considered an insanity plea but later withdrew it. Instead, they argued he should face a lesser charge of manslaughter, saying the stabbing was not premeditated.
Prosecutors, however, have charged him with murder, citing his decision to leave, change clothes, and return armed with a knife.
Remembering Perla Nieto
Nieto’s obituary described her as a “wonderful, kind and caring wife, mother, and grandmother, who will be dearly missed.” Her death shocked her family, coworkers, and the local community.
What’s Next
Closing arguments in the trial were scheduled for Friday morning, after which the jury will begin deliberations. Their decision will determine whether Lewis is convicted of murder, a lesser charge, or something in between.
The tragic death of Perla Nieto has left a void in her family and community, while Jermard Lewis’ fate now rests in the hands of a jury. The case underscores how a misunderstanding, left unresolved, escalated into deadly violence—changing two families’ lives forever.
