21-02-2025
State wants copy of book being written by Boards
ANDERSON — Just days after his arrest for the shooting death of Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz, Carl Roy Webb Boards II started writing a book.
The Madison County Prosecutor's Office has filed a motion in Madison Circuit Court Division 3 for Boards' attorney to turn over the writings.
He is scheduled to go on trial in September on charges of murder, resisting law enforcement and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Boards faces the death penalty.
Deputy Prosecutor Jesse Miller made the motion for defense attorneys to compel Boards' attorney to turn his book over to the court.
Boards was arrested Aug. 1, 2022, and two weeks later, during a call from the jail, he indicated that the first chapter of the book had been written, according to the prosecution.
During that telephone call, Boards said he wrote about meeting his father for the first time and about 'grown men with daddy issues.'
The motion states that at least four times from Aug. 15, 2022, to Aug. 26, 2022, Boards mentions the book and wanting to sell it for a profit.
Boards was informed in September 2022 by his lawyer that, under the law, the book could not be published until after the trial.
His attorneys objected to the prosecution's request for the book, claiming that it is a 'work product' and falls under the attorney/client privilege.
Miller's motion said Boards has claimed he is intellectually disabled and intends to claim an insanity defense.
Defense attorney Joe Duepner said no one has been told about the content of the book except for the defense attorneys.
'There is a lot of information in the document,' he said. 'It was edited and reworked after conversations with his attorneys."
Miller said the first chapter was written before Boards' attorneys were appointed by the court.
Andrew Hanna, chief deputy prosecutor, said the defense has the burden of proving attorney-client privilege.
'There are parts that are work product and parts that are not work product,' he said. 'The defense should explain what was added as work product. The state is entitled to the document."
Boards, allegedly, shot Shahnavaz to death early the morning of July 31, 2022, after the officer stopped a 2012 Buick LaCrosse driven by Boards near the intersection of Indiana 37 and Madison County Road 1100 North. Police have not provided a reason for the traffic stop.
Officers from Elwood and Madison County found the wounded Shahnavaz and administered life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived. Shahnavaz was taken by ambulance to Ascension St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood and later flown by helicopter to an Indianapolis-area hospital, where he died.
Just after 2:30 that same morning, Hamilton County officers found the Buick and attempted a traffic stop. After the Buick continued south on Indiana 37, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies deployed a tire-deflation device near Indiana 37 and 146th Street.
The Buick continued southbound on Indiana 37 toward Interstate 69. While on I-69, Fishers police used two 'precision immobilization techniques.' After the second attempt, the Buick struck a median barrier wall.
Officers took Boards into custody without further incident.
