A convicted killer’s unexpected return to the community has ignited outrage in Indiana after local officials said they were left completely in the dark about the release.
According to the New York Post, Autumn Cordellioné, who was sentenced to decades in prison for the death of an infant under his birth name of Jonathan Richardson, was quietly paroled and made her way back to Evansville — not through official notice, but after being spotted by a member of the public.
“The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office was not notified that this defendant was back in the community — they were spotted by a citizen who recognized them from the original court case,” Prosecutor Diana Moers said.
Cordellioné, a man who claims to be a woman, had been convicted in 2002 for the killing of 11-month-old Faith Lee, a crime that dates back to 2001.
At the time, he had been left to care for the child at a shared home. Authorities said the baby was strangled.
He was handed a 55-year sentence but ultimately served less than half before being released on parole. State records listed a possible release date in late December 2025, though officials have not clarified exactly when he was freed.
The lack of communication surrounding his release has drawn sharp criticism, especially given the nature of the case.
Officials only became aware Cordellioné was back in the area after a concerned citizen recognized him from the original trial and alerted authorities.
Since returning, he has reportedly started an account on the subscription platform OnlyFans, adding another layer of public attention to the case.
Cordellioné has also been at the center of multiple legal battles in recent years.
While incarcerated, he successfully sued the Indiana Department of Corrections over its policy prohibiting gender-affirming surgery for inmates.
“Convicted murderers don’t get to demand that taxpayers foot the bill for expensive and controversial sex-change operations. It lacks all common sense,” said Todd Rokita in response at the time.
“We won’t stop defending our state’s ban on using taxpayer funds to provide sex-change surgeries to prisoners,” he added.
In a separate legal fight, Cordellioné filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, alleging his “transphobic hate speech” contributed to the abuse he experienced while in prison.
The controversy surrounding his release comes as state leaders move to tighten procedures.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun recently signed a law requiring that prosecutors and local law enforcement be notified ahead of the release of violent offenders — a measure aimed at preventing situations like this one.
The case has since become a focal point in broader concerns over transparency and oversight in the state’s parole system.
