According to information from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, on the evening of Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, Officers with the Knox Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of west Ellis St. in the city.
The Starke County 911 center had received a 911 call from a male at this residence who told dispatchers that he had been attacked inside his home.
Initial responding officers arrived and learned the victim had a serious head injury. The victim informed officers that a male known to him as Christopher Fields had entered his home while he was sleeping. The victim reported being hit in the head with a blunt object and a short altercation ensued. The victim reported that Fields then fled the residence. The victim was transported to a local hospital, and later transferred to a hospital in the Chicago area for advanced medical treatment due to injuries to his face and eye.
At the request of Knox PD, detectives with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department were requested to assist in the investigation. Detectives collected evidence at the scene, including what is believed to be the object the victim was struck with. Officers from Knox PD located security camera footage at a nearby residence that showed the suspect vehicle and two males, including Fields, pull up to the victim’s residence and leave a short time later.
The following day, investigators located the suspect vehicle and the male who had been driving the vehicle. Additional evidence was obtained from the vehicle.
At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives submitted a report to the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office for review. After review, the Starke County Prosecutor formally filed charges on Christopher A. Fields, age 52 of North Judson. Those charges are Burglary resulting in Serious Bodily Injury a Level 2 Felony, Burglary of a Dwelling a Level 4 Felony, Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon a Level 5 Felony, Battery resulting in Serious Bodily Injury a Level 5 Felony, and Theft as an A Misdemeanor.
A subsequent warrant was issued for Fields by the Starke Circuit Court with a $50,000 cash bond assigned to the warrant. At this time, Fields has not been located. Anyone with information regarding the location of Christopher Fields is encouraged to contact the Knox Police Department, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, or Michiana CrimeStoppers.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
