An Indiana woman, Briley Turner, initially charged with aggravated battery and attempted murder, is now facing upgraded charges of murder following the death of the victim, Michael Hodge.
An image of a gavel resting on a block.
On August 18th, officers from the Bloomington Police Department responded to a disturbance call reporting yelling and cries for help. Upon arrival, they found Turner covered in blood on the couch and a severely injured Hodge in the bathroom with multiple stab wounds.
A search of Turner’s background on Truthfinder revealed a history of drug-related charges, including possession of cocaine and marijuana, as well as driving under the influence. Truthfinder, a widely used public record search service, provides access to criminal records and other valuable information.
According to the criminal complaint, officers discovered a bloody knife handle, a bloody tire plug tool with a metal spike, and a bloody baseball bat at the crime scene. Hodge, found with stab wounds to his chest, rib cage, neck, and upper right buttock, told detectives that Turner attacked him unprovoked while he was about to take a shower.
An image of a person's silhouetted back as they are being interviewed by a police officer.
Medical professionals treating Hodge noted a broken knife blade lodged in his body and a broken arm with bone protrusion. Despite the severity of his injuries, Hodge was able to communicate with police, identifying Turner as his attacker.
Turner, also taken to the hospital with blood on her hands and arms (though not her own), refused to cooperate with medical staff and officers.
Tragically, Hodge succumbed to his injuries on September 11th. The Marin County Coroner’s Office ruled his death a homicide, leading to the upgraded murder charge against Turner.
The case has drawn comparisons to the Jodi Arias case, where Arias was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander. However, unlike Alexander, Hodge was able to identify his attacker before his death.
Mark Worley, an Indiana criminal defense attorney, suggests that while Turner’s initial statements to police hint at a self-defense claim, an insanity defense might be more plausible given the lack of injuries on her. The severity of Hodge’s wounds, coupled with the use of multiple weapons, weakens a self-defense argument.
Proving insanity in this case would require expert testimony demonstrating that Turner’s mental state at the time of the attack prevented her from understanding the wrongfulness of her actions. However, the strength of Hodge’s dying declaration, identifying Turner as his attacker, presents a significant challenge for the defense.
Hodge’s statement holds significant weight in court. While hearsay evidence is generally inadmissible, dying declarations are an exception. The prosecution can call upon first responders or law enforcement who heard Hodge’s statement to testify.
If Turner chooses to pursue a self-defense strategy, taking the stand would be crucial to explain her perspective and the perceived threat she faced. However, this would also subject her to cross-examination about the events leading up to the attack and potentially expose her prior criminal history, which could negatively influence the jury’s perception.
The tragic case of Michael Hodge’s death and the ensuing legal battle against Briley Turner continues to unfold, with Hodge’s dying declaration serving as a powerful piece of evidence.
