Judge James E. Harris
Prosecutor: Jane Craney
Defense: Ronald Tedrow, Kevin P. McGoff
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.
Trial: Information/PC for Murder filed (07-17-85); Amended Information filed (09-11-85); Jury Trial (01-06-86, 01-07-86, 01-08-86, 01-09-86, 01-10-86, 01-11-86, 01-13-86, 01-14-86, 01-15-86, 01-16-86, 01-17-86, 01-18-86, 01-19-86, 01-20-96); Verdict (01-20-86); Court Sentencing (04-02-86, 04-03-86, 04-04-86).
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:
On December 29, 1992, in compliance with Indiana Supreme Court Opinion, Bellmore was sentenced by Morgan County Circuit Court Judge James E. Harris to 60 years imprisonment for Murder.
As of July 1, 2006