Prosecutors Seek Life For Aurora Murder Suspect

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 7:28 AM

Charles Robert Stephenson

file photo

Leigh Jennings

file photo

(Aurora, Ind.) – Dearborn County prosecutors will seek life in prison without parole for a man accused of murdering an Aurora woman.

Charles Robert Stephenson is accused of using a skillet and a pepper grinder to beat Leigh Jennings to death. The 67-year-old was found dead in her apartment on Aspen Ridge Road on April 5, 2012, investigators believe about a week after she died.

Prosecutors recently filed in Dearborn Circuit Court a notice of intent to seek life in prison without parole for Stephenson, 58, of Walton, Kentucky.

Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor Aaron Negangard said during a press conference announcing charges against Stephenson last May that the death penalty was a possibility in Jennings’ murder. If not life, he faces up to 115 years in prison if convicted on charges of Murder and Robbery.

Stephenson’s case is scheduled to go to jury trial on Monday, May 6. He has been ordered held in jail in Dearborn County pending trial.

Investigators allege that Stephenson needed to pay a court-ordered debt to a family member in order to avoid going to jail. He had previously borrowed $5,000 from Jennings. Following the murder, which detectives think may have occurred on March 29, Stephenson allegedly stole money from a safe in Jennings’ bedroom to pay the debt.

LINKS:

Stephenson Held Without Bond; Pleads Not Guilty

Murder Suspect Could Arrive In Indiana Wed.

Murder Suspect Charged; Used Pepper Grinder, Skillet

Judge Denies Stephenson Lower Bond

Ky. Prosecutors Link Stephenson To Aurora Murder

Person of Interest Indicted In Boone Co.

“Person of Interest” Arrested For Drugs

Police: Aurora Murder Victim Was Beaten To Death

Announcement Friday In Aurora Murder Case

Friend: Murder Victim Was Nurturing, Animal Lover

Friend Of Murder Victim Remains Hospitalized