A 25-year-old Indiana man will spend more than three decades in prison after attempting to kill his teenage girlfriend by hurling her into the path of a moving train.
On Wednesday, Delaware County Circuit Judge John M. Feick sentenced Di Morriea Turner to 36 years in state prison for the 2019 attack, which nearly claimed the life of his then-17-year-old girlfriend.
The case moved swiftly through the courts. In July, a jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding Turner guilty of multiple felonies, including attempted murder, aggravated battery, and domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, according to the Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Judge Feick credited Turner with 1,714 days already served.
In his sentencing order, Judge Feick highlighted a series of aggravating factors. Turner was already facing two additional criminal cases involving the same victim, was out on bond at the time of the attempted murder, and had a prior history of violence against minors. His record includes convictions for battery on a child under 14 and domestic battery in the presence of a child.
Even while incarcerated, Turner racked up nine incident reports, further convincing the court of his threat to public safety.
Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman praised the outcome: “I’m very happy with this result. This verdict should send a message to everyone in this county that Domestic Violence will never be tolerated.”
In a press release, Hoffman’s office stressed that evidence clearly showed Turner “pushed or threw his girlfriend in front of or into a moving train in an attempt to kill her.”
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, the attack happened on June 19, 2019 in the 500 block of West 23rd Street in Muncie, Indiana.
Police responding to the scene found both Turner and his girlfriend injured. Turner suffered cuts to his knees and elbows, while the victim was unresponsive and bleeding heavily from her head. She was airlifted to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, where she underwent extensive treatment, including reconstructive facial surgery.
Investigators later obtained surveillance footage and witness accounts that painted a chilling picture.
One witness told police it looked as if Turner had the victim in a “bear hug” before hurling her over his shoulder into the path of the train.
Video evidence showed the victim appeared to be trying to escape Turner, but he grabbed her head and forced her into the moving train’s path.
The victim survived but has been left with life-altering injuries and trauma.
This case underscores the devastating reality of domestic violence and its far-reaching consequences. By securing such a lengthy sentence, prosecutors hope it serves as a powerful deterrent against similar acts of intimate partner violence in Indiana and beyond.
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