Toddler and Baby Brothers Killed After Stolen Car Chase Ends in Flames

A stolen car, a high-speed chase, and a devastating crash that left two young brothers dead — now the driver responsible will spend more than seven decades behind bars.

S’Doni Pettis, 25, has been sentenced to 74 years in prison for a fiery collision that killed 3-year-old Ares Vawter and 2-month-old Iris Moore. A Hendricks County judge handed down the maximum sentence allowed under Indiana law.

The tragedy unfolded on the morning of Feb. 5, 2025. Prosecutors say Pettis, who was on probation for aggravated battery at the time, stole a gray Honda Civic in Indianapolis and began driving west on U.S. 40.

When an Avon police officer attempted to pull him over and learned the vehicle was stolen, Pettis made what prosecutors described as a deliberate decision to flee.

Moments later, he tore through the intersection of Ronald Reagan Parkway at extreme speeds — running a red light at nearly 100 mph — and slammed directly into a Ford Explorer carrying a family.

The force of the crash sent the SUV airborne before it became engulfed in flames.

Inside were two small children.

Iris, just 2 months old, was pronounced dead at the scene. Ares, 3, suffered catastrophic burns and was rushed to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, where he later died from his injuries. The brothers were laid to rest together weeks later.

Data recovered from Pettis’ vehicle showed he was traveling around 90 mph at the moment of impact and never hit the brakes, according to prosecutors.

Several others were injured in desperate attempts to save the children. The boys’ father, multiple responding officers, and even a civilian bystander who tried to cut a melted car seat away from one of the victims were hurt in the chaos.

Pettis ultimately pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including resisting law enforcement, causing catastrophic injury while operating a vehicle, causing death while operating a vehicle, auto theft, and conversion. He reached a mid-trial plea deal before sentencing.

“This crime was completely foreseeable,” Hendricks County Prosecutor Loren Delp said after the sentencing. “Two young children are dead because the defendant didn’t want to be held accountable for stealing a car.”

Delp called the crimes unspeakable, saying there is no sentence that can undo the loss — but that the community has a responsibility to hold the offender fully accountable.

Now, Pettis will spend the next 74 years in a state correctional facility — effectively the rest of his life — for a split-second decision that destroyed a family forever.