Terry Ogle, a 79-year-old man from Indianapolis, is facing a charge of murder after allegedly killing his 76-year-old wife, Mary Ogle, with a hammer. The incident occurred on Friday, January 17, when Ogle called 911 around 1 p.m., informing the dispatcher that he had “bludgeoned” his wife to death. According to a probable cause affidavit, when asked about the nature of the emergency, Ogle replied, “The nature of the emergency is that there’s been some violence.” He confirmed that his wife was deceased, adding, “She’s been down for a while.”
In the call, Ogle mentioned that he was not arguing with his wife but had been under depression for some time. He reportedly said, “I think she’s having an affair,” and added that he “just lost it.” When the dispatcher asked if he needed CPR instructions, Ogle responded, “It’s too late.”
Upon arriving at the Ogles’ home, officers found Mary lying on her back in a bedroom with signs of blunt force trauma to her head. The lower half of her body was covered with a blanket. Blood was found in several areas of the house, including on a recliner, walls, stairs, and kitchen sink. Officers also discovered two hammers, clothing, towels, knives, and pieces of carpet and recliner in the home.
Ogle was transported to a hospital for treatment of a self-inflicted wrist injury and high blood pressure. Mary, a retired teacher, and Terry, a former middle school principal, had been married for many years. Their neighbors, who described the couple as friendly and affectionate, were shocked by the crime.
Ogle is scheduled for a court appearance on March 11. It remains unclear whether he has entered a plea, as his attorney has not commented on the case. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline are available at 1-800-799-7233 or online at thehotline.org.
