Marion County Superior Court
Judge John
W. Tranberg
Prosecutor: Timothy Morrison, Michael Conway
Defense: Craig Turner
Date of Murder: March 28, 1983
Victim(s): Jane Brumblay W/F/31 (No relationship to Harris)
Method of Murder: manual strangulation
Summary: Harris confronted Jane Brumblay as she was preparing to get into her car parked in the Glendale Shopping Mall. Brumblay was startled and threatened to report Harris, who promptly overpowered her, and forced her into her car. Harris removed her pantyhose and tied her hands, then drove to a movie theater lot and raped her more than once. Brumblay began to struggle and Harris choked her with her scarf until she was semi-conscious. He then placed the scarf in her mouth and drove to Broad Ripple Park. The victim had by this time swallowed part of the scarf and had stopped breathing. Harris placed her body in the trunk and abandoned the car. The pathologist testified that Brumblay died as a result of manual strangulation, not the scarf.
Conviction: Harris pled Guilty But Mentally Ill to Murder, Kidnapping, and Rape
Sentencing: February 10, 1984 (Death Sentence)
Aggravating Circumstances: b (1) Rape, Kidnapping
Mitigating Circumstances: suffering from a psychiatric disorder which substantially disturbed his thinking and behavior
Direct Appeal:
Harris v. State, 499 N.E.2d 723 (Ind. November 5, 1986)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0; DP Affirmed 4-1
Pivarnik Opinion; Givan, Shepard, Dickson concur; Debruler dissents.
Plea of Guilty But Mentally Ill
Harris v. Indiana, 107 S. Ct. 2490 (1987)
(Cert. denied)
PCR:
PCR Petition filed 10-03-90.
03-05-92 Joint Petition to End Litigation While Insuring that Petitioner is Never Released From Prison filed.
03-05-92 Defendant pleads guilty to Murder, Kidnapping (A Felony), and Rape (A Felony), and is sentenced by Marion County Superior Court Judge Paula E. Lapossa to 60 years, 50 years, 50 years for a total of 160 years imprisonment. PCR Dismissed.
As of July 1, 2006