69 SOUTH
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69 SOUTH
The Mother Who Shot Back: Bruce Pierce's Reign of Terror as a Child Predator
A mother's worst nightmare unfolds in real-time at an Indianapolis hotel when she returns to Room 111 to find convicted child molester Bruce Pierce attacking her 12-year-old daughter. In that split-second of horror, she makes a decision that will forever alter multiple lives—she draws her gun and fires.
The bullet-riddled walls of Room 111 tell only part of a story that stretches back more than a decade. Bruce Pierce's predatory shadow first emerged in 2013 when a courageous 10-year-old girl detailed multiple assaults to investigators. Her testimony was so compelling—recounting specific blankets, movies, and locations where abuse occurred—that it secured Pierce's conviction on multiple charges across two counties.
Despite being classified as a sexually violent predator and serving eight years, Pierce was released in 2022 and quickly resumed his calculated pattern of grooming young victims. By 2025, he had already established online communication with a new target, a 12-year-old girl, attempting to convince her to run away with him—classic grooming behavior that foreshadowed physical violence.
What makes this case particularly disturbing is how it exposes the failures of our justice system to protect society's most vulnerable. Pierce's sentences ran concurrently rather than consecutively, effectively shortening his time behind bars. Upon release, his predatory instincts remained unchanged, resulting in a horrific confrontation that left blood-spattered walls, torn clothing, and two more traumatized victims in its wake.
The courage of both young victims in speaking out against their abuser reminds us why these stories must be told. Predators thrive in silence, and these children's voices—clear, brave, and unwavering—shine a light into dark corners where monsters like Pierce attempt to hide. Their strength gives others the courage to come forward and break cycles of abuse.
Have you ever wondered why sexual predators targeting children have such high recidivism rates? Listen to our full breakdown of the Bruce Pierce case and understand why experts say for many offenders, the compulsion is "like dope to them—they cannot stop."
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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!
Welcome. Find a friend and a lover.
Speaker 3:Welcome everyone to Podcast 69 South, where we cuss and discuss true crime, cold cases, current events and hot topics, along with our state of society today. This is your trigger warning. Our podcast content is produced for adult listeners, 18 years of age and older. We discuss situations that may be offensive and triggering to some listeners. Sit back, relax and enjoy. Welcome back to 69 South Podcast. Everybody, I'm Chop, I'm your host, and with me always is my beautiful co-host, julie. How are you doing today?
Speaker 2:I'm good. How are you?
Speaker 3:We got a good one today forhost Julie, how are you doing today? I'm good. How are you?
Speaker 1:We got a good one today for you folks. Hold on. A woman is now working with police after she says she shot a man who she says was trying to sexually assault her 12-year-old daughter. Court documents reveal that police responded to the shooting at the Baymont Inn on Eagle View Drive. Officers say when they got there they learned that the girl and her sister had met up with their mom and a man named Bruce Pierce in the hotel lobby. After going back to a hotel room, the mom was carrying bags to the car and the girl stayed behind in the room with Pierce. That's when she says he tried to assault her While holding a gun and even ripping her clothes. According to the documents, the mom then came back into the room. She saw what was happening and she fired at Pierce using her own gun. Pierce went to the hospital. The girl was checked out at Riley Hospital. Pierce has multiple previous child molestation convictions and now has a warrant out for his arrest on new charges that include child molesting, rape and unlawfully owning a firearm.
Speaker 2:Today we're diving into a saga that spans over a decade, a chilling tale of a predator betrayal and a violent hotel room confrontation that left blood on the walls. This is the story of Bruce Pierce, a habitual sexual predator.
Speaker 3:Yeah, this is some heavy shit. We're talking allegations of child molesting in Indiana, a suspect with a haunting criminal record and a 2025 incident that erupted in gunfire. Where do we begin with this shit?
Speaker 2:Well, let's rewind to October of 2013 in Morgan County, indiana. That's where the story starts. What the 10-year-old girl will call victim one to protect her identity, her courage and speaking out sparked an investigation that would expose a predator's shadow stretching far into the future. Expose a predator's shadow stretching far into the future.
Speaker 3:Now before we get completely started in this story, as our listeners know, we always protect victims. We don't give minors names, we don't give victims names, but we had somebody online kind of threatening us and giving us some bullshit, so we'd like to give a shout out to you. So here's a shout out to you, les and all the bullshit that you tried to talk shit to us online. Here's the only thing I got to say to you Go fuck yourself. Now back to the story. It's August 2014, and the Morgan County Sheriff's Department is hit with a disturbing report. Sergeant Brad Cooley takes a statement from someone close to victim one, a 10-year-old girl. She confided that Bruce Pierce, a 28-year-old man living specifically in Martinsville, has been engaging in inappropriate behavior with her. The allegations are serious touching that shatters every boundary of trust.
Speaker 2:Detective Anderson is assigned to the case and moves quickly. He coordinates with Ms Jacone from the Department of Child Services and they schedule a forensic interview at Susie's Place, a child advocacy center in Avon, indiana. This is a safe space for kids to share their stories with trained professionals on August 13, 2014. Victim One sits down with Ms Ginn, a forensic interviewer, and here is her heartbreaking account.
Speaker 3:Victim One is clear and composed, despite the weight of what she's sharing. She says that incidents began around October 2013,. Just before her 10th birthday, bruce touched her inappropriately multiple times, often when she was alone with him in a house in Martinsville. She describes specific things like rooms and homes where she should have felt safe, each time she tried to escape, moving into another room or finding an excuse to leave. Her story is detailed, consistent and carries the weight of truth from a child.
Speaker 2:The interview uncovers six separate incidents in Morgan County, each a betrayal Victim. One says Bruce warned her not to tell anyone, claiming he'd face jail if she did Imagine a 10-year-old carrying that secret out of fear. But she finds the strength to speak up. Her story doesn't end in Morgan County. She also mentions incidents in Avon, Hendricks County, pulling another jurisdiction into the case.
Speaker 3:That's a brave-ass 10-year-old man to have to come through and talk this stuff. Man. Once again I want to give a shout-out to Suzy's Place. Man. That place is freaking awesome for doing what they do for children. Man. Now Detective Anderson's report outlines the scope of the allegations. On August 12, 2014, at 3.53 pm, a Department of Child Services report is filed. Anderson meets with Ms Jacone, avon Police, detective Chapman, morgan County Prosecutor's Office, representative Pen and Victim Advocate Mrs Black at Susie's place. They're all there to ensure victim one's voice is heard and justice is pursued.
Speaker 2:The forensic interview in August of 2014 is a turning point. Victim one's details, times places. Bruce's warnings are vivid and compelling. She talks about feeling trapped, scared and uncomfortable, but her precision gives investigators confidence. Her courage sets the stage for what's to come.
Speaker 3:So on August 13, 2014, Detective Chapman from the Avon Police Department is at Susie's place observing Victim 1's forensic interview. She reveals four additional incidents in Avon at an apartment. These occurred during specific visits in July and August in 2014. This gets Hendricks County fully involved.
Speaker 2:Victim 1 describes one incident in detail. She's at an apartment trying to sleep on an air mattress with a Superman blanket and a flower-patterned one. They'd watched, saw and eaten pizza earlier. She's drifting off when Bruce enters, startling her. He engages in inappropriate touching, leaving her scared and uneasy. She tries to disengage, but the situation feels overwhelming. She says this happened three more times at an apartment, each incident heightening her fear.
Speaker 3:Man, that shit's pretty specific. I mean, the victim remembers the blankets, the movie, the pizza. That ain't shit a little kid just invents in her head. Man, Her consistency across multiple incidents makes her accounts undeniable to me. Detectives in Morgan and Hendricks counties know they're dealing with a serious predator at this point. Man, I mean, kids don't just make up all them little bitty things together. You know what I mean. That's memories in a little baby's head.
Speaker 2:Detailed everything.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:In August 2014,. Bruce Pierce walks into the Avon Police Department for a voluntary interview with Detective Chapman, and this guy's behavior is a master class in red flags. Chapman outlines the allegations of inappropriate touching. You'd expect Bruce to show concern, maybe ask if the victim one is okay, nope. His first question is did she go to the doctor? It's like he's fishing for what evidence the police have.
Speaker 3:Like he's already on guard. You know what I'm saying. Well, can you prove this type shit? That's what he's trying to say, right, man? That's a guilty man's move. Bruce describes victim one as very grown and very smart and very intelligent, which feels off for a 10 year old. He claims she knows about adult topics from school or other influences, but he's vague, like he's dodging the specifics. He even uses the same terms victim one used calling private areas, her front and back. Now, how does he know her exact words? That's a freaking warning sign. That's a red flag to me. Like you know what I'm saying, like he's probably heard her say that's my private, my front, my back.
Speaker 2:So he's clearly he's fucking up at this point repeating yeah now chapman presses for details about any conversations bruce had with victim one. Bruce gets nervous wringing his hands shifting in his seat red flags he contradicts himself, saying he never discussed adult topics, then admitting she described adult concepts to him. It's a mess of a story falling apart under scrutiny.
Speaker 3:Chapman asked point blank if Bruce touched victim one inappropriately. Bruce says no. But when told he she accused him, he doesn't deny it outright, he just says really. Then he starts repeating yeah, she's lying, like she's trying, like he's trying to convince himself. His tone wavers, sometimes sounding like a question yeah, she's lying, it's all classic stall tactic, man.
Speaker 2:I can't believe. He's just like, really, oh, and then, yes, she's lying. Yes, she's lying. What should be coming out of her or out of his mouth is hell. No, I didn't. If he really didn't do it, hell, no, I didn't do this. And trying to prove his innocence in every way, absolutely His innocence in every way.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, and from the gate he's like well, she knows about adult stuff from her friends and TV.
Speaker 2:She knows this, that and the other. He goes straight to calling her a liar, which is his only defense.
Speaker 3:Straight to deflecting and fucking blaming.
Speaker 2:Now Bruce suggests victim. One might be making it up, maybe due to some unrelated issue, but when Chapman asked for examples for her lying before, he's got nothing, not one instance. His defense is crumbling. Then there's the computer voice stress analyzer test, similar to a polygraph, scheduled for August 20 of 2014.
Speaker 3:Now he agrees to take the CVSA, but an hour before the test he leaves Chapman a voicemail canceling His excuse. He doesn't want to incriminate himself anymore. Of fucking course he doesn't. If you're innocent, why would you worry about incriminating yourself? Why would he fucking not want to take the voice test if he wants to prove his innocence? That voicemail is a nail in the coffin. Morgan County charges him with six counts of child molesting. Hendricks County files three counts, two level one felonies for serious misconduct and one level four felony for inappropriate touching.
Speaker 2:That's crazy. So he has multiple cases in multiple jurisdictions just for one victim. I can't imagine what that poor child had to go through Me too.
Speaker 3:And the, the investigators and the detectives man, obviously the In their heads they're thinking this motherfucker is guilty, wringing his hands, fucking wiping the sweat off his head.
Speaker 2:You know, just just they pay attention to that body Absolutely and how people answer questions. And a lot of them I mean like a lawyer, a lot of them they ask questions they know answers to.
Speaker 3:Sometimes they don't know, but a lot of the times they do 90 percent of the time, they already know the answers to these questions. They already knew most of the answers because, like we said earlier, a 10-year-old is not going to make up this bullshit, especially with the details. I mean this blanket, this movie, this pizza.
Speaker 2:She was so traumatized All she could do is sit and look at things around her and remember and think oh dear Jesus, please get me out of this situation as fast as possible, or you know something like that.
Speaker 3:I mean, unless this poor little 10-year-old girl is a Stephen King where she can write these fucking movies in her head, she's not going to remember all these details, man, that's. The only thing she could probably focus on was the blanket in the movies, to keep this shit from fucking staying in her head. You know what I mean? That's how she dealt with this bullshit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and victims of crimes like these. They have to go to therapy, for I mean years upon years, and if they don't go to therapy, I mean it could just be a cycle of self-sabotage and self-destruction. But Bruce Pierce faces justice in both counties, but the legal process is layered. I want to break down the convictions and his sentences, starting with Hendricks County. On February 23, 2016, under Clause no 32D03-1409-F1-00001, judge Love presides over the case. Two counts of child molesting as a Level 1 felony are dismissed. The third count child molesting by fondling or touching a child under 14, and a level four felony is resolved through a plea agreement.
Speaker 3:I guarantee you that's another one of these deals where much love to judge love. He didn't want to put this poor child through the bullshit of a trial because this dude is probably not guilty. So they plea bargained with this punk ass, fucking dude I know.
Speaker 2:But I don't see why when they plea bargain they plea the highest charge gone. I mean, in these cases I don't. I think the highest charge should stick in. The lowest charge, if they're pleading at all, should be pled away. Or I don't think it should be pled away period. But you know, it's absolutely like dealing with the devil is what it is.
Speaker 3:That's exactly what it is, but in this case I'm sure they saved the poor baby from having to testify against this fucking monster. The sentencing is detailed on February 23rd 2016. Bruce is ordered to serve 3,650 days, which is 10 years, in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Starting immediately, he gets 712 days of jail credit, including 534 actual days and 178 days of good time credit. Of the 10-year term, 730 days, which is about two years, are suspended and he's placed on probation for those 730 days. The sentence runs concurrently with his Morgan County case calls number 55D02-1409FA001422. Conditions include no alcohol consumption or or his substance abuse problem.
Speaker 2:Apparently he has one.
Speaker 3:A fucking.
Speaker 2:Apparently he's got some fucking problems 1409 FA 001422, judge Bernham oversees the case. Now, this is two counts of child molesting involving intercourse or deviant sex with a victim under 14. Class A felonies are dismissed without prejudice. The third count, child molesting as a a class c felony, is resolved via a plea agreement. Bruce is sentenced to eight years in the indiana department of corrections starting march 18th of 2016, with 557 days of jail credit. This sentence runs concurrently with the hendricks county case. Now, so here we are again with the consecutively and the concurrently. For the life of me, I can never remember which one is which.
Speaker 3:So concurrently means At the same time. Concurrent means at the same time and, folks, if you can't remember the last time I said this, last time I said this, the way I remember is the Kansas City Chiefs won consecutive Super Bowls. That means back to back, that means they didn't run together, one right after another. Yeah, so that's a good thing. If his sentence run consecutive, that means one after the other. When his sentence runs concurrent, that means it's at the same time Right.
Speaker 3:If he got five 10-year sentences that run concurrent, that means he's really only doing fucking one sentence, because they're all running at the same time. If he got five 10-year consecutive, that means he's doing 50.
Speaker 2:So they screwed this poor victim because it says this sentence runs concurrently with the Hendricks County case. So all that time's running together as one.
Speaker 3:Right A lot of times if they don't catch a criminal and it's like they call it, like a crime spree type shit. So what they say is well, he did all this shit before we charged him with all this shit, so we'll just run them all together. It's all part of the plea bargain bullshit. Oh, Now there's another conviction in Henrich County on October 5th 2020 under cause number 32 CO1 1409-F1-00001. Bruce is convicted of child molesting as a level four felony and sentenced to one year in the Indiana Department of Correction, with a projective release date of September 8th 2021. This adds to his already extensive record.
Speaker 2:So whenever I was looking up Bruce Pierce, this case did not pop up at all, and whenever I searched his prison record, this case was in his prison record for 2020. And that's how I got the link at the time. But tell me, why is he only sentenced to one year when he is a habitual offender?
Speaker 3:How did?
Speaker 2:he only get one year.
Speaker 3:That don't make sense.
Speaker 2:On a level four.
Speaker 3:Did you see if he was supposed to be registering as a sex offender for this?
Speaker 2:Yes, he's supposed to be registering as a sex offender for this. Yes, he's supposed to be registering as a violent sexual predator.
Speaker 3:And then he got this other case, I mean, and then one year it must have been, they must not have much on the case.
Speaker 2:I don't know he went to prison for it.
Speaker 3:Shit pisses me the fuck off.
Speaker 2:Right Now the Indiana Department of Corrections records tie it together Bruce Pierce, doc number 259487, born October 1985, white male, was incarcerated at the Indianapolis Parole District. His sentences are documented February 3rd 2016, for child molesting, a level four felony in Hendricks County, a seven year 11 month 29 day term, with the projected release date of September of 2019. Then, march 17th 2016 for child molesting, a class C felony in Morgan County, an eight-year term, with projected release date August 9, 2022, and October 5, 2020, for child molesting, a Level 4 felony in Hendricks County, a one-year term. His earliest possible release date was August 9, 2022. State records confirm he was sentenced to eight years total for the 2016 convictions and classified as a sexually violent predator on the Indiana Sex Offender Registry since September of 2019.
Speaker 3:So, oh, Bruce serves his time. He gets out by August 2022 and is back in Indianapolis. You'd hope someone with that record would stay clean, but predators don't always change. Just like we say, folks, these kid diddlers are like it's like dope to them. That brings us to May 2025, where this story takes a violent, explosive turn.
Speaker 2:Now, on May 4th, the Baymont Inn at 3850 Eagle View Drive in Indianapolis, room 111. It's a Sunday morning when IMPD gets a call that sends officers racing to the scene. A female caller reports walking into room 111 and finding a man named Bruce trying to rip off the clothes of a 12-year-old girl. We'll call victim to to protect her identity. Then more calls flood in. A male has been shot. Detective Heiser from IMPD's Child Abuse Unit is paged to contact Officer Nall who's on the scene.
Speaker 3:Officer Nall briefs Heiser and it's grim scene. Officer Nall briefs Heiser and it's grim. The suspect is Bruce Pierce, now 39, a waste management worker with a dark past. He's allegedly attempted to rape victim two and he's been shot critically injured and is en route to Eskenazi Hospital. Victim two is also injured, not by a bullet but by being struck with a pistol Bruce was carrying. She's being rushed to Riley Hospital for treatment. Heiser heads to the Beaumont and Nall updates him. Victim 2's injuries are serious, requiring immediate medical attention.
Speaker 2:Heiser arrives at the hotel and the scene is chaos. He speaks with Officer Hornaday who's been talking to BC, victim 2's great aunt. Bc drops a bombshell. Bruce had been communicating with Victim 2 online and over the phone, building a relationship. She says he even tried to convince victim two to run away with him. This isn't random. I do not feel like it's random. What he's doing is predatory, calculated behavior.
Speaker 3:So he was already communicating with victim two to this 12-year-old girl.
Speaker 2:Yes, before this happened.
Speaker 3:By phone, by internet. I wonder how the fuck he ended up.
Speaker 2:With her mom.
Speaker 3:With her mom, or even in the hotel room with this girl. I mean that shit kind of don't make sense to me in a way. But we're all giving him the benefit of the doubt, right Not?
Speaker 2:him. No, not him, Not him but the whole situation.
Speaker 3:I mean, if they know he's communicating with this girl, he's a fucking violent sexual predator. What the fuck is he doing around this 12-year-old girl in the first place? A witness steps forward with a bizarre account. He's staying across from room 111 around 745 am. He's woken by a woman screaming. He opens his door, sees room 111's door wide open and a white male likely Bruce tells him someone's been shot. The guy hands the witness a cell phone probably Bruce's and asks him to hold it. The witness is in shock of course, places the phone on the bathroom counter in room 111. Investigators believe victim two's phone is also in the room.
Speaker 2:Heiser approaches room 111's front door and it's like stepping into a crime scene from a thriller. It's like stepping into a crime scene from a thriller. Blood is spattered on the walls, on the floor, spent shell casings and live rounds are all scattered around. Blood-covered items litter the area, evidence of a violent struggle. There is no longer just an allegation, there's physical proof of something horrific.
Speaker 3:She shot the fuck out. That dude is what happened.
Speaker 2:She sure did.
Speaker 3:Heiser locks down the evidence applying for a search warrant for room 111, targeting electronics and firearms. The warrant is granted under cause number 49D23 2505, mco 16250. The search yields two iPhones, one believed to be the victim's two moms and one thought to be Bruce's Victim. Two's phone isn't found yet. They recover multiple shell casings in live rounds confirming gunfire. Shell casings in live rounds confirming gunfire. A glock 43 serial number blah blah blah is found in a trash can at the back of the room covered in blood. Crime scene unit tech hodges transport it to the impd property room under cause number blah blah blah. So they found the glock in a trash can yeah, with blood.
Speaker 2:I guess maybe the glock was his gun.
Speaker 3:I'm not sure yet, because he had a gun well, he had a gun because he hit victim two in the somewhere. He hit her and then the mother came in and shot the fuck out of him. I wonder which one was the gun that was found in the trash can.
Speaker 2:We'll have to.
Speaker 3:We need to clear that shit up yeah. In my mind I'm hoping. Well, I mean I'm not hoping no bad shit happened to anybody, but I'm hoping dude had a gun and she come in there and shot the fuck out of him. Is what I'm hoping.
Speaker 2:Officer Ryan Nearson adds a detail While administering aid to Bruce, she removed a holster from his waistband. He wasn't just armed, he was carrying the gun on him. Heiser interviews BC, the victim, who's shaken but cooperative, she says victim two and her sister MF stayed with her the night before the incident because victim two's mom didn't come home. The girls woke BC, worried about their mom. They knew she was at the Baymont Inn so BC drove them there. In the lobby they found victim two's mom with Victim 2 and MF went inside with them. Victim 2's mom and MF started taking her belongings to BC's car, leaving Victim 2 in room 111 with Bruce. Soon after BC heard multiple gunshots, victim 2's mom and Victim 2 came running out of the hotel room. Victim 2's clothes were torn. Bc had been told Bruce was messaging Victim 2, trying to lure her away and get her to run away All right.
Speaker 3:so we need to get this story straight a little bit, because it's getting weird. It is getting weird. So the victim was with her aunt, which is her mother's sister, the night before, or her aunt or something like that. Right and her mom didn't come home that night. So they was worried to death about the mother. But they knew the mother was at the hotel. And then, when they show up at the hotel looking for the mother, she was in the lobby with this fuckhead, bruce.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:So they start carrying.
Speaker 2:They go up to the room. They go up to room 111 to retrieve the mom's luggage or bags, her belongings, and I guess victim two feels like she's going to get sick and has to go to the bathroom, right? So while she's doing that, the victim's mother and her other daughter decide they're going to take their luggage and belongings down to the car.
Speaker 3:Okay, so, if I got this right, they know that Bruce has been online chatting and texting with this little girl.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they know.
Speaker 3:So they find the mother at the hotel with this fuckhead and they are carrying the mother's shit down to the car, leaving the little girl with fuckhead, and then just moments later they go back upstairs and his shit came out of the bathroom and then he was On top of her.
Speaker 2:Shit came out of the bathroom and then he was on top of her.
Speaker 3:I mean, I don't know man, there seems to be a little bit of red paint in the story that I'm not understanding. You see what I mean, I mean.
Speaker 2:Well, yeah, there's a lot to my. First thing we don't understand is okay, if you know that your daughter has been talking to a man that's in almost 40 years old and she's 12 years old, why in the hell are you at a hotel with him? Anyway? And obviously the girls the victim and her sister they knew where their mom was. Did they know who she was? With Question mark, they were apparently worried about something because when they woke up they were worried because their mom wasn't home yet. And most teenage girls say they go stay the night at their aunt's house or whatever. When they wake up the next morning, you know they're not really too concerned with what their mom's doing. You know what I mean.
Speaker 3:Right. Usually girls hope my mom's having a good time because I'm having fun here at my aunt's house. Well, you know, mom, pick us up when they want to. I wonder if the 12-year-old girl had been communicating with this Bruce fuckhead and they knew where she was at with him. But we're going to get into some of that shit, man, because I see some red paint coming. Heiser talks to MF, victim to sister, who's just a kid but gives a clear account. She confirms they went to the Baymont to find their mom, saw Victim 2's mom and Bruce in the lobby and went to room 111. Mf adds that Bruce had been texting Victim 2, asking her to go with him, saying he'd kick out his girlfriend. One night Bruce took victim two to smoke, parked past their house and pulled, put his hand on her leg, making her feel uncomfortable. He also asked for pictures, though it's unclear if any were exchanged.
Speaker 2:This is textbook grooming. Bruce is manipulating a 12-year-old girl, building trust to exploit her. Heiser interviews Victim 2's mom at Northwest Roll Call. She says she was at the Baymont with Bruce getting breakfast in the lobby when Victim 2 and MF arrived. They all went to room 111 because Victim 2 felt sick, Victim 2's mom and MF took some of her bags to BC's car, leaving Victim 2 with Bruce in room 111. Two with Bruce in room 111. Mf stayed in the car and victim two's mom headed back to room 111. As she approached she heard victim two saying no, no, no. She walked in and saw Bruce on top of victim two on the bed, Her shirt ripped. Victim two's mom reacted instantly, grabbing her gun and shooting Bruce who was holding his own gun. The shooting is under separate investigation under IMPD case number 250044720.
Speaker 3:I mean shit. That's any mother's instinct. Victim 2's mom sees her daughter in danger and acts Bruce is armed. Victim 2's clothes are torn. It's a fucking nightmare. Heiser learns that Victim 2's mom and Victim 2 use Victim 2's cell phone to call 911. Used Victim 2's cell phone to call 911. So BC later contacts Heiser saying she found Victim 2's phone, which is brought to Northwest Roll Call. Heiser secures a warrant to search it and it's granted under the call's number.
Speaker 2:Heiser and Ms Fuentes from the Department of Child Services interview Vict two at Northwest roll call. Her account is harrowing. She says she woke up that morning with M F and her mom wasn't home. They tried calling her but her phone seemed off. Bc drove them to the Baymont where they found victim two's mom and Bruce in the lobby. All four went to room one. 11 victim two felt mom and Bruce in the lobby. All four went to room 111. Victim 2 felt sick and went to the bathroom. While Victim 2's mother and MF were outside, bruce called for her and then whistled, telling her to sit on the bed.
Speaker 3:That's when shit turns wrong. Man Victim 2 sits on the bed and Bruce grabs her arms, pinning them down. He rips her tank top and underwear, his gun lying on the bed next to them a clear threat. Victim 2 says he didn't speak, just stared intensively. She's 12, trapped with a man who's already hurt her with that pistol.
Speaker 2:I wonder if he's high, like high on dope, like if he didn't say anything and he just looked at her and he's all weirded out.
Speaker 3:Man, this is speculation, but I'm pretty sure there's a fucking meth involved in this story somewhere.
Speaker 2:You gotta think about this. Man has already offered to try to get her to run away Before this happened. He's smoked with her. He's went out and smoked something with her.
Speaker 3:I mean, shit like this just don't happen without some fucking dope involved somewhere. I'm just saying this ain't normal shit. This is weird meth shit. Victim 2's mom burst in, yelling at Bruce and pulling involved somewhere.
Speaker 2:I'm just saying this ain't normal shit. This is weird meth shit. Victim 2's mom bursts in, yelling at Bruce and pulling her gun. Victim 2 breaks free as her mom fires. They make it to BC's car, drive away briefly, then return to call 911. Victim 2 was treated at Riley Hospital because a shot went off near her ear, causing injury. She confirms Bruce texted her and messaged her on Snapchat, but says his physical contact in the room was limited to her stomach, chest and shoulder while ripping her clothes off.
Speaker 3:I just feel like there's some shit missing somewhere in this story.
Speaker 2:Very much so.
Speaker 3:Don't you.
Speaker 2:I mean it's like because if I had a daughter and I caught her messaging a man, I and I'm she. I don't even know if this lady knew this man like that or had any connection or idea that this man had been grooming her daughter, trying to get him to run away, but it's just weird to me that this man had been messaging this girl and then the mom ends up in a hotel room with this man. That's a convicted child molester.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and then magically everybody disappears and she's in the room with him by herself. There's just some fucking shit missing, is all I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Which you know. I feel no pity or no sympathy for him whatsoever. Good for her. I'm glad she did it. He deserved it. You know what I mean? Yeah, but Detective Heiser starts to wrap up the evidence.
Speaker 3:You know, this is some serious shit. The only thing that I wish is man. I wish she'd had a better aim.
Speaker 2:Now Heiser wraps up the evidence all three phones Bruce's phone, victim 2's phone and Victim 2's mother's phone. They're all sent to the IMPD property room, with Bruce's going to the digital forensics unit for analysis. I think they should all go for analysis personally, absolutely. Heiser submits a request to process the devices Okay, hoping to recover text or Snapchat messages. On May 28, 2025, he files the affidavit for probable cause under case number 49D-302505F1016597, charging Bruce with attempted rape, attempted child molestation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and confinement of a victim under 14. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Speaker 3:Heiser tries to track Bruce down, calling room 240 at the Regal 8 in at 6, 6231 West Washington Street listed as his address. No answer. The front desk confirms he's checked in but was last seen on May 27, 2025. Some reports initially said he was on the run, but officials later clarified to Fox 59 slash CBS 4 that he's still hospitalized, recovering from his injuries with an active warrant.
Speaker 2:And they did arrest him on June 6th and he is in the Morgan County Jail now. So thank goodness he's not out on the lam and able to hurt any more kids.
Speaker 3:I hope they treat him good there.
Speaker 2:Now this case is a gut punch. Bruce Pierce, convicted three times for child molesting, twice in 2016, once in 2020, allegedly targeting another young girl victim, two in May of 2025. Another young girl victim, two in May of 2025. The assault in room 111 was stopped only by victim two's mom's quick action. The parallels to victim one's case are eerie. Both girls are young, vulnerable and targeted by a man who exploited their trust.
Speaker 3:Let's break down the pattern here. In August 2014, victim one, age 10, gives a forensic interview at Susie's place. That's so credible it leads to convictions in Morgan and Hendricks counties. She describes multiple incidents of inappropriate, touching specific settings, and Bruce attempts to silence her. Her courage put him behind bars for eight years total, with sentences of seven years, 11 months and 29 days in Hendricks County, eight years in Morgan County and one year in Hendricks County. He's released by August 2022 as a sexually violent predator on the registry. Good for her man. Victim one and victim 2 are brave as hell, especially Victim 1, man, because she came through.
Speaker 2:Then, in May of 2025, victim 2, at age 12, tells a story that mirrors Victim 1's. Bruce communicates with her online, tries to lure her away, builds a relationship through text and Snapchat. Then he escalates to violence, pinning her down, ripping her clothes with a gun for intimidation. The evidence is overwhelming blood on the walls, shell casings, a bloody glock, torn clothes, victim two's injuries and witness statements from BCMF and victim two's mother. And then there was also another witness. We'll leave unnamed, but it's crazy.
Speaker 3:The grooming is what gets me Julie. Bruce didn't act on impulse. He manipulated victim to ask for pictures, took her on a drive that ended up with his hand on her leg. It's calculated just like his actions in 2014. And after serving time for the similar crimes, he didn't stop. That's the mark of a predator who's not rehabilitated, just like we always say. The kid dealers. It's just like dope to them. They cannot fucking stop kid dealers.
Speaker 2:It's just like dope to them. They cannot fucking stop, and the recidivism rates for them are so high. Now Victim 2's mom role is pivotal. Her shooting of Bruce is under investigation, but she stopped a predator in his tracks. The case against Bruce is pending, with charges filed on May 28th. Will Victim 2's story bring lasting justice? Will Bruce face the consequences for Room 111? We don't know yet, but we will keep you updated.
Speaker 3:This story stings man because it's about the kids who deserve safety. Victim 1 and Victim 2 were let down by someone who should have protected them, but their voices clear, brave, unwavering brought this to light. Victim 1's August 2014 interview led to convictions. Victim 2's May 2025 account hopefully it does the same. Shit ends up in convicting this punk-ass dude.
Speaker 2:Now that's why we tell these stories. Predators like Bruce thrive on silence. Victim 1 and Victim 2 broke that silence and their strength inspires others. If you or someone you know are facing abuse, reach out to the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422 4453. You are not alone.
Speaker 3:To our listeners. This was a long one, but these stories deserve every word. Support 69 South with a review and share the episode, or join our Patreon for exclusive content. Follow us on X at 69 South Podcast for updates.
Speaker 2:Thanks for staying with us. We'll be back next week with another story to keep you hooked. Until then, stay vigilant, stay safe. Have a good night.
Speaker 3:Good evening.
Speaker 2:Whatever?
Speaker 3:Whatever Outro Music.
