DOB: 10-29-49 DOC: #987991 White Male
Floyd County Superior Court
Judge Richard G. Striegel
Defense: Michael J. McDaniel, Patrick Biggs, Steven E. Ripstra
Date of Murder: July 27, 1996
Victim(s): Debbie Chaffin Ingle W/F 41 (wife / separated)
Method of Murder: Shooting with handgun
Summary: Ingle and his wife Debbie had been married approximately twenty-five years. They married immediately after his release from federal prison when she was seventeen years of age. The marriage was one of repeated domestic violence. Debbie tried to leave on numerous occasions, but he physically intimidated her into remaining in the marriage. In July 1996, Debbie moved out of the house and made it clear to Ingle she would not return. Ingle stalked her for weeks using disguises and borrowed cars and kept her under constant surveillance. On the morning of the murder, Ingle donned a disguise, loaded a handgun, and walked up to Debbie where she worked as a waitress. His confessed plan was to take her out of the restaurant and physically force her to return as he had done on prior occasions. Debbie recognized him, screamed his name and instructed co-workers to call for police. Ingle responded by shooting her 7 times with a handgun and fled. Within minutes, Ingle was confronted by police on the street and shot a New Albany Police Officer three times, once in the back, and fled a second time before he was arrested. The officer was wearing a vest and survived with serious injuries.
Trial: Information/PC for Murder filed (07-29-96); Motion for Speedy Trial (10-03-96); Amended Information for DP filed (02-03-04); Voir Dire in Dubois County (08-31-98, 09-01-98, 09-02-98, 09-03-98, 09-04-98, 09-08-98, 09-09-98, 09-10-98, 09-11-98); Jury Trial in Floyd County (09-21-98, 09-22-98, 09-23-98, 09-24-98, 09-25-98, 09-28-98, 09-29-98, 09-30-98, 10-01-98, 10-02-98, 10-05-98, 10-07-98, 10-08-98, 10-09-98, 10-12-98, 10-13-98, 10-14-98, 10-15-98); Verdict (10-15-98); DP Trial (10-16-98, 10-19-98, 10-20-98); Verdict (10-20-98); Court Sentencing (11-19-98, 11-23-98); Resentencing after Remand (06-20-01).
Conviction: Murder, Attempted Murder (A Felony), Attempted Kidnapping (A Felony)
Sentencing: November 19, 1998 (Death Sentence)
Aggravating Circumstances: Lying in Wait, B(1) Attempted Kidnapping
Mitigating Circumstances: Mental State (not rising to level of insanity), Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Direct Appeal:
Ingle v. State, 746 N.E.2d 927 (Ind. May 8, 2001)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0; DP Vacated 5-0
Sullivan Opinion; Shepard, Dickson, Boehm, and Rucker concur.
(Convictions for Murder and Attempted Murder affirmed, but conviction for Attempted Kidnapping reversed; Death sentence vacated due to insufficient evidence to show aggravators - No evidence to show Ingle confined victim to secure act by a third party, therefore not a hostage and no Attempted Kidnapping; Although Ingle did watch, wait and conceal himself outside restaurant, this was day before murder. A disguise alone worn when entering restaurant was not enough to show lying in wait; Remanded for resentencing to a term of years.)
On Remand:
Ingle resentenced by Floyd Superior Court Judge Richard G. Striegel on June 20, 2001 to consecutive terms of 65 years imprisonment for Murder and 50 years imprisonment for Attempted Murder (A Felony).
Ingle v. State, 766 N.E.2d 392 (Ind. 2002).
(Direct appeal after resentencing and imposition of 115 years imprisonment - Affirmed)
As of July 1, 2006