Larry Wilder Defends Stephen Gower in Clark County Murder Trial Acquittal

In October 2026, defense attorney Larry Wilder represented Stephen Gower in a Clark County murder trial involving the August 2025 death of Gower’s wife, Christina. After hearing evidence and testimony over the course of the trial, the jury deliberated for approximately five hours before finding Gower not guilty of murder.

Prosecutors accused Gower of shooting his wife with an AR-15 pistol at the couple’s Southern Indiana home. Gower and his defense maintained that Christina’s death was self-inflicted and challenged the State’s case throughout the proceedings.

Jurors heard testimony from law enforcement officers, crime scene and laboratory analysts, medical experts, and other witnesses as they considered the conflicting evidence surrounding Christina’s death.

Following the verdict, Wilder emphasized both the burden Gower had carried since being charged and the importance of requiring the State to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“For more than a year, Stephen has lived under the worst accusation a person can face, while grieving the woman he loved since they were teenagers,” Wilder said. “This jury did exactly what our system asks of citizens. They listened carefully to all of the evidence, held the State to its burden of proof, and found that burden had not been met.”

Wilder also expressed appreciation for the jurors and the care they took in considering the case. After more than a year facing a murder charge, Gower left the courtroom acquitted.