Winchester murder suspect sentenced to 33 years for producing child pornography

WINCHESTER, Ind. – In April 2023, Winchester police were called to the home of Larry J. Planck III, where Isabel Hernandez was found shot to death on the front lawn.

Planck was arrested and charged with murder.

But Planck’s alleged crimes did not stop at the taking of a life. He also ruined the lives of others, most notably an underage girl who used Planck for sexual gratification and was forced to produce child pornography.

Booking photo of Larry Planck III

Planck’s child exploitation crimes were discovered by detectives investigating Hernandez’s murder. The evidence was found on a hard drive belonging to Planck.

Now a jury has found Planck guilty of 17 counts of child sexual exploitation, including promoting the sex trafficking of children. On October 3, a judge handed down Planck’s sentence: 33 years in prison.

But that is not necessarily the end of Planck’s prison sentence. Planck still faces one count of murder and a jury trial is tentatively scheduled for October 14. But Planck’s attorney recently withdrew from the case, according to the Randolph County Prosecutor’s Office, meaning another delay may be on the way.

Planck also still faces charges of sexual assault and incest. These charges were leveled against Planck as investigators dug into the child pornographic videos and images found during the murder investigation.

Planck’s depravity seems to know few bounds; ranging from murder to the sexual assault of a minor to the production of child pornography to the sexual battery of a family member.

“There is nothing wrong with incest; it’s fun and a nice thrill because it’s taboo,” Planck allegedly wrote to his victim.

A judge noted that Planck still feels no remorse for his crimes. Not because of the shooting of Isabel Hernandez, who was allegedly pregnant with his child, or because of his depraved sexual acts with children.

“(Planck) appeared to have no remorse and even grinned when some of the evidence was presented at trial,” said the judge who sentenced Planck to 33 years in prison.

Life behind bars still lies ahead for Planck, who was just 25 years old when he was arrested in Hernandez’s death. Murder charges in Indiana carry a wide range of sentencing options, including a 60-year prison sentence, life in prison with or without parole, and even the death penalty.