On Dec. 28, former Penn lecturer and Indiana University assistant professor Don Belton, 53, was discovered dead of stab wounds in his kitchen, according to an article published Dec. 30 in the Indy Star.
Michael J. Griffin, 25, a Bloomington, Ill. resident unaffiliated with Indiana University, told police he stabbed Belton because Belton refused to acknowledge that an “incident” that had occurred earlier between the two men had been a “mistake,” according to the Star.
According to the Indiana Daily Student, Griffin informed police that he was “sexually assaulted” by Belton, who was openly gay, in the professor’s home on Christmas Day. An argument arose after Belton showed “no remorse” for the alleged assault when Griffin visited him two days later to discuss the incident.
The Daily Student reported that police believe the nature of the crime was “to be of anger or passion.”
On Dec. 30, Griffin pleaded not guilty. A pretrial conference is scheduled for March 1.
An Associated Press article stated that, as of Jan. 1, Griffin is being held without bond on murder charges in the Monroe County Jail.
Belton taught a small liberal and professional studies course at Penn as a part-time lecturer through the English department in spring 2007, according to University Media Relations Director Ron Ozio.
Belton also taught at the University of Michigan and Macalester College, according to a news release issued by Indiana University.
An hour-long community vigil in Belton’s honor was held on New Year’s Day at the Bloomington Courthouse Square.
