DNA brings break in murder

As a result of new DNA techniques used to process evidence, two men have been charged with killing a Morgan County man in his home on Sept. 4, 1984.

Frederick C. David, 43, was found by his parents stabbed to death in his home at 2980 Townsend Road.

According to Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega, because of the new techniques, along with the work of Morgan County Deputy Sheriff Scott Hamilton and former Morgan County Sheriff Paul Mason, the case can now be closed.

Ronald Glenn, 43, and Alphonzo Easley, 44, were arrested Wednesday in connection with David's murder based on the new tests performed on DNA evidence that was found at the scene of the murder in 1984.

Glenn is being held by the Indiana Department of Corrections on a probation violation and a drug offense from Shelby County.

Easley is being held in the Marion County Jail on Robbery and other charges.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Hamilton, Ronald Glenn, 43, was one of three people identified as a “person of interest” in the case.

Glenn was interviewed in January 1985 by then Morgan County Sheriff Paul Mason and detective Robert Craig. During that interview, he implicated two men, Rodney Jefferson and Raymond Lamont Harris in the killing.

Glenn and Easley will have a pretrial hearing at noon Friday.

Glenn said they were planning a burglary, and Jefferson told the men he knew someone from whom they could get money. Jefferson called the unidentified man ,who met the men at their Indianapolis home.

They followed the man to his home on Townsend Road.

Glenn said Jefferson went into the home with the man.

After a few minutes, Jefferson came out and called to the other two men to come in.

Glenn said after they went inside, Jefferson and Harris went with the man into a bedroom.

Glenn said he began going through the home looking for items to take.

Glenn said he took a camera, watch, and some silverware, which he put the box into the blue truck driven by the unknown man.

Glenn said when he went back into the home, he heard the man scream. He went into the bedroom where Harris was pulling up his pants and the man was nude except for his socks.

He said Jefferson had his hand around the man’s throat and was yelling “I want all your money.”

Glenn said they took several items from the home.

He also said the Jefferson began stabbing the man who was saying, “Please don’t kill me.”

Glenn said the man did get away, but Jefferson and Harris caught him and pulled him back into the bedroom.

Glenn said Harris and Jefferson both had blood on their clothing and the next day, Jefferson had a bandage around his hand.

Mason and Craig interviewed Jefferson and Harris who denied involvement in the crime.

Glenn was re-interviewed by the officers later in January and in March 1985.

During the March interview, Glenn reportedly admitted he had not been entirely truthful and there was a fourth man with them.

According to investigators, Glenn began changing the story he initially told them.

In April 1985, Glenn told investigators a “Michael Smith” was with the three when they went to the Townsend Road home. Investigators looked for “Michael Smith” but could not find him.

During the time he was interviewed, Glenn never admitted to having known David or his name.

No charges were filed because of Glenn’s changing story.

In early 2002, Hamilton began working on the case.

Since the Indiana State Police had conducted most of the evidence recovery in 1984, that department still had those items in evidence.

Hamilton said he sent several items off to the state police lab to be tested for a DNA match.

DNA on several items was matched to Alphonzo Easley, who was in the Indiana Department of Corrections at the time.

Hamilton said this was the first time Easley’s name had come up in the investigation.

In July of this year, Hamilton interviewed Easley at the Indianapolis Police Department office. He is currently facing charges of burglary and robbery in Marion County.

Easley denied involvement in the crime and denied knowing Glenn.

Hamilton also re-interviewed Glenn, who told Hamilton he had been saved and “God would not let him lie to us.”

Glenn also denied any involvement in the crime.

Hamilton obtained a warrant to take a sample of Easley’s blood. Easley reportedly asked Hamilton when the arrest warrant would be issued.

That blood was compared with evidence taken at the crime scene and it matched, Hamilton said.

Hamilton requested warrants be issued for both Glenn and Easley. They are both charged with Felony murder and with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.