Morgan County Circuit Court Judge James E. Harris

Prosecutor: Jane Craney

Defense: Ron Tedrow

Date of Murder: June 30, 1985

Victim(s): Donna Denney W/F/46 (No relationship to Bellmore)

Method of Murder: stabbing with knife/ manual strangulation

Summary: Bellmore and Wesley Young were hired or requested by Wesley's Father, David Young, to "rough up" David Young's girlfriend (Donna Denney) after they broke up. Bellmore and Wesley went to Denney's home near Martinsville. After talking on the back porch, Bellmore attacked her, choked her, and stabbed her twice in the abdomen per David's instructions. They ransacked Denney's home to make it look like a Burglary, and split $190 found in her purse. David Young committed suicide before trial. Wesley Young testified against Bellmore at trial.

Conviction: Murder

Sentence: April 14, 1986 (Death Sentence)

Aggravating Circumstances: b(1) Burglary

Mitigating Circumstances:
no violent criminal conduct for 20 years
lesser sentences received by accomplices

Direct Appeal:
Bellmore v. State, 602 N.E.2d 111 (Ind. October 29, 1992)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0 DP Vacated 4-1
Dickson Opinion; Debruler, Krahulik, Shepard concur; Givan dissents.

(Remanded for "new sentencing determination" - Tattoo of knife dripping with blood placed on Bellmore's arm while in jail after trial improperly considered as an aggravating circumstance)

On Remand: Bellmore sentenced by Judge James E. Harris to 60 years imprisonment.