Shooting Investigation Part 3: True and false stories sorted, probable cause established, criminal case filed, suspect to be charged with attempted murder

Det. Clark detailed the various stories that were told by both Turner and Minks and reading through the probable cause affidavit, it’s clear the two did not have their stories straight. One said the altercation occurred when all three individuals were standing outside the truck. The other said Bennett was outside the truck but Turner and Minks never got out of the truck.

Between the two of them, Bennett was accused of holding a knife to the throat of Minks, of holding a knife to her groin area, and another story was told of how Bennett came at her with a knife in his hand over his head as if he was going to stab her. None of those were true - all of these scenarios changed during the course of the interviews and eventually it was determined that Bennett did not have a knife in his hand or in his possession when he was shot.

One thing was certain – there was tension between Turner and Bennett. Various reasons for the tension were given in the stories such as personal issues, a previous incident in which Minks said she was victimized and Bennett might have been involved, disagreement over sales and purchases of illicit drugs, and an earlier attempt by Turner and Bennett to buy methamphetamine.

The tension while the three were all in the truck resulted in an apparent forceful demand by Turner for Bennett to turn over his knives and cell phone to Turner. Bennett complied, then exited the truck when they got to his house.

Det. Clark wrote that Minks said after they arrived at Bennett’s house, while she and Turner were still in the truck and Bennett was outside, she rolled the window down as Bennett approached the passenger side. She was going to give Bennett’s property back to him, but an argument began between Turner and Bennett. She allegedly said Turner raised the gun, reached across the front of her face, pointed it at Bennett and shot him, then drove away.

Minks also allegedly said Turner had started making a list of people he believed were bad people. She said Turner had burned the list near a field at the 50 North location after the shooting. Officers were unable to find any trace of the burned list but no information has been made public about whether the list might have been found in the truck’s toolbox.

Det. Clark said toward the end of this round of interviews, Det. O’Malley confronted Turner with the latest information obtained from Minks and although Turner did not offer many details, he did confirm that her version was accurate, that Bennett was returning to the truck to get his knife and cell phone back, and that Bennett was unarmed when Turner shot him.

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Until Turner appears in court, he is being held without bond.

Late Thursday, a judge reviewed the affidavit prepared by Det. Clark and found there was probable cause for criminal charges.

Early Friday morning, Greene County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Keven McIntosh filed a criminal case against Turner in Greene Superior Court.

When Turner appears in court before Judge Dena Martin for his initial hearing, he will be formally charged with:

• Attempted murder, a Level 1 felony,

• Pointing a firearm at another person, a Level 6 felony,

• Theft, a Class A misdemeanor,

• Operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in the body, a Class C misdemeanor, and

• False informing, a Class B misdemeanor.

This investigation is ongoing. Evidence will be processed, more interviews conducted. The condition of the victim has been reported to be improving, but as of noon Friday, detectives had not yet been able to speak to him about the incident.

LPD Chief Troy Jerrell commended all the officers involved in the initial investigation and expressed his appreciation for the assistance provided by the Indiana State Police.

“The ISP has capabilities in forensics that smaller departments don’t have and we always appreciate the ISP coming to assist and help out,” said Jerrell.

Jerrell also noted this investigation started out as two separate investigations, one launched by the Linton Police Department and one launched by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.

“This started out as two investigations which then merged into one,” said Jerrell. “The ability of these officers from different departments to work together was crucial. They did a great job of communicating with each other.”