Trial date set for murder suspect

Local News

Related Photos

Hendricks County Sheriff’s deputies lead Joseph Warnock into the Hendricks County Courthouse in Danville. RYAN PALENCER/FLYER PHOTO

June 26, 2009

BY RYAN PALENCER The Hendricks County Flyer Fri Jun 26, 2009, 02:22 PM EDT

DANVILLE — Joseph Warnock entered a plea of not guilty during an initial hearing Wednesday morning in Superior Court 1 at the Hendricks County Courthouse.

Warnock, 41, is being charged with murder in the stabbing death of his estranged wife, Angela, 38. He will have a pre-trial hearing on Sept. 3, followed by a jury trial on Oct. 6. Warnock is also charged with a class A misdemeanor for violating a no contact order.

Warnock, who had yet to hire an attorney, was read the charges by Judge Robert W. Freese. Warnock said he was going to hire an attorney, and Freese gave him 20 days to do so.

Hendricks County Prosecutor Patricia Baldwin said that the case will be proved by the evidence that is provided.

“The sheriff’s department and other departments have helped and have a lot of evidence that they have gathered,” Baldwin said. “This was obviously a very serious crime. We take the issues of murder and domestic violence very seriously.”

If found guilty of the murder charge, Warnock could face a maximum of 65 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, or a minimum of 45 years in prison. The misdemeanor charge holds a maximum sentence of one year in prison with a $5,000 fine, and a minimum of no jail time and no fine.

Police were sent to the house at 10450 Splendor Way after they received a 911 call from Warnock’s 8- and 12-year-old daughters. Authorities say the girls were present during the stabbing and were able to identify Warnock as the suspect.

Freese on Wednesday ordered that Warnock have no contact with his children. They are currently staying with a relative.

After a search that included the use of police dogs, Warnock was apprehended without incident by an off-duty night security officer at the Eagle Crossing subdivision.

Angela Warnock had filed for a protective order against her husband in May.

“Protective orders have their limitations and are only a tool,” Baldwin said. “They do allow things like police to make arrests if they continue to make contact with the person. But a protective order is not going to be some type of protective shield that will physically protect you against a person who wants to do you harm.”

Angela Warnock worked at a Brownsburg beauty salon, while Joseph Warnock sold tanning beds and coached his daughter’s basketball team.

“This is an example that this can happen in any area of society,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin also verified that neighbors had reported that Warnock had been drinking in the past.

“We are always looking for something like that to explain why a person acted the way that they did,” she said. “Obviously you look at things like alcohol, drug abuse, financial issues, or anything that might be going on in these cases.”

Warnock is being held at the Hendricks County Jail in Danville and no bond has been set. Baldwin said that is routine for a murder case.

ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com

Text Only

Local News

500 Festival hosts memorial ceremony
There is nothing more honorable for a man to give his life for his country.

For all of the Hoosiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice and died in the defense of the United States, the 500 Festival hosted its Annual Memorial Service on Monument Circle Friday.

May 25, 2012 3 Photos
Avon council turns down transit request
Greg Ballard, mayor of Indianapolis, recently developed a letter regarding the support of a referendum on transit funding and had asked other local communities to sign the letter.

May 25, 2012
Community gets peek behind the scenes at IMS
For one sunny day, fans of open wheel racing got a peek under the Indy 500 hood, so to speak, as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway put on its annual Community Day.

May 24, 2012 23 Photos
Local family fights back for cure against rare genetic disease
May 24, 2012 1 Photo
County looks to battle water illnesses
The week prior to Memorial Day serves as National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week.

May 23, 2012
Howie Mandel to serve as 500 honorary announcer
Howie Mandel, standup comedian and judge on “America’s Got Talent,” will serve as honorary announcer for the 96th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 27.

May 23, 2012
Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.

May 23, 2012 1 Photo
BCSC raises $30,000 for Race for the Cure
Basketball season may have ended a few months ago for the Bulldog community, but the school system decided to give the Susan G. Komen Foundation one extra large, record assist as they recently announced raising $30,000 in the Race for the Cure fight against breast cancer.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Drive for Damon golf scramble set
A golf scramble to raise money for disabled former Ben Davis High School basketball star Damon Parks is set for 1 p.m. June 3 at Riverside Golf Course in Indianapolis.

May 22, 2012
Brownsburg fights back with Relay for Life
For 24 hours, it will be non-stop community versus cancer in town as the Relay for Life event will takes place. The event will start at 5 p.m. June 1 at the Brownsburg West Middle School track.

May 22, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Trial date set for murder suspect

Do you think using a tanning bed is worth the risk of skin Cancer?

Site Map