by BTL staff
The late Don Belton.
INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana University and former University of Michigan professor was stabbed to death in his Bloomington home Dec. 27 in an attack that police said was motivated by an incident that occurred on Christmas Day. A man authorities call a recent acquaintance was being held on a murder charge.
The victim was 53-year-old Don Belton, an assistant professor of English at IU, English Department chairman Jonathan Elmer told The Associated Press.
Michael J. Griffin, 25, of Bloomington is being held without bond in the Monroe County Jail on a charge of murder.
Griffin, an ex-Marine, pleaded not guilty in initial court hearing on Dec. 30 at a Monroe County court.
According to court documents, Griffin told police he fatally stabbed Belton during an argument Dec. 27. Griffin alleged that Belton had sexually assaulted him twice on Christmas Day.
Bloomington police Lt. David Drake said Griffin and the victim were recently acquainted. "I don't think they knew each other well, at least not for a long period of time," he said.
Police believe the slaying stemmed from a Christmas Day incident at Griffin's home, he said. Drake said the victim was stabbed "at least five or six" times in the back and several times in the front of the torso.
A friend who came to the victim's house found the body in the kitchen on Dec. 28, Drake said. Police who were called to the scene found both doors unlocked and no signs of forced entry. Nothing was missing, he said.
Investigators decided to talk to Griffin because he was one of the last people mentioned in the victim's journal, Drake said, then got information that led them to consider him a possible suspect. Officers who searched Griffin's home Monday night found a 10-inch-long military style knife believed to have been used in the killing, Drake said.
According to the IU Web site, Belton had formerly taught at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, Macalester College and the University of Pennsylvania and had lectured at the Sorbonne. He was also a published author who had written for Newsweek and The Advocate and edited an anthology of essays, titled "Speak My Name: Black Men on Masculinity and the American Dream." Belton also penned a novel in 1986, "Almost Midnight."
Elmer said in a statement that Belton's friends, colleagues and students were "shocked and terribly saddened by the news of his death."
"His great talents as a writer, his extraordinary generosity to his students, and his warmth of personality were gifts to us all. We will miss him terribly," the statement said.
Belton had taught at IU since fall 2008, the statement said.
Drake said the victim had lived in the home for about six months. Neighbor Luis Roncayolo said Belton was a good neighbor.
"Very nice guy," he told Indianapolis television station WTHR. "Very outgoing. Nice to meet. Wanting to talk to people. Nice to meet and deal with," he said.
A candlelight vigil was held in Belton's honor Jan. 1 in Bloomington. Hundreds of people attended, and friends said the death came as a shock and remembered him as a beloved member of the community.
Belton's friends also said they don't believe Griffin's accusation. Griffin is being held without bond in the Monroe County Jail.
