BLOOMINGTON— A 25-year-old Bloomington woman, Briley Turner, is now facing a murder charge following the death of a man she allegedly stabbed in August. The victim, 36-year-old Michael Hodge, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday at an Indianapolis hospital.
Turner, who was already in custody on charges of attempted murder, a Level 1 felony, and aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony, saw her charges amended by the Monroe County Prosecutor on Friday to include murder, elevating the severity of her case.
The incident unfolded on Sunday, August 18, at Kinser Flats Apartments. Bloomington police responded to a domestic dispute call around 7 p.m. after the caller reported hearing a woman yelling and a man screaming for help. Upon arrival, officers had to force entry into the apartment when no one answered.
Inside, they discovered a gruesome scene. Court documents reveal that Turner was found lying on the couch covered in blood. Hodge was located in the bathroom with multiple stab wounds. Police also recovered several bloodied items, including a kitchen knife, a tire plug tool with a metal spike, and a baseball bat.
Both Turner and Hodge were initially transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital. Hodge’s injuries were extensive, including stab wounds near his collarbone, ribs, scrotum, thigh, hip, and buttocks. He also suffered cuts and punctures to his abdomen and neck, as well as a broken left arm. Hodge told police that Turner had attacked him with a baseball bat and then stabbed him repeatedly as they were about to take a shower, stating there had been no argument or apparent reason for the assault.
Turner refused to speak with police at length. However, court documents note that she made statements suggesting self-defense, saying, “He tried to get me” and “He tried to put that stuff down my throat. I don’t know what he put in my throat, and I had to defend myself, dude.” Doctors observed that Turner had older bruises on her legs and sides, as well as blood on her hands and arms, but was otherwise unharmed.
The case has taken a tragic turn with Hodge’s death, escalating the charges against Turner. If convicted of murder, she could face a significantly longer sentence than the potential 20 to 40 years for attempted murder and three to 16 years for aggravated battery under Indiana sentencing guidelines.
