Did "Gay Panic" Lead Ex-Marine Michael Griffin to Kill Professor Don Belton?

By: Ryan Smith
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP Photo )

(AP Photo)

INDIANAPOLIS (CBS/AP) The final terrifying moments of Indiana University professor Don Belton's life are seemingly not in dispute. His alleged killer, 25-year-old Michael Griffin, an ex-marine, has confessed to police that he plunged a 10-inch military style knife six times into Belton's body, according to court papers.

Photo: Don Belton, assistant professor of English at Indiana University.

But why did Griffin allegedly do it?

The former military man told police that Belton, who was openly gay, sexually assaulted him in front of his girlfriend, while they were both intoxicated on Christmas Day. And because the assistant professor of English refused to "show remorse," Griffin stabbed him to death, according to court documents.

Photo: Michael J. Griffin's mug shot from the Bloomington Police Dept. provided Dec. 29, 2009.

Despite his alleged confession, Griffin has pleaded not guilty to the killing. And though his defense strategy is not yet clear, others with similar cases have pursued a "gay panic" defense, hoping to persuade juries that they were rendered temporarily insane by the perceived romantic or sexual advances of the victim.

Photo: Matthew Shepard was murdered Oct. 7, 1998 for being gay.

In the case of Matthew Shepard, the gay 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and murdered in 1998, his attackers originally used the gay panic defense, arguing that they were driven to temporary insanity by his alleged sexual advances. Both attackers were given life sentences.

One of the highest-profile cases to make use of the defense was that of Jonathan Schmitz, who killed his friend Scott Amedure after a taping of the The Jenny Jones Show where he learned that Amedure was sexually attracted to him. Schmitz was convicted of second degree murder and was sentenced to 25 to 50 years.

As for Griffin's case, the marine who lives in Bloomington, 50 miles southwest of Indianapolis, reportedly told police he stabbed the 53-year-old Belton after he went to the professor's home to confront him. The two got into an argument, Griffin reportedly said. A scuffle ensued.

A friend who came to Belton's home Monday Dec. 28 found his body in the kitchen, authorities said. Police who were called to the scene found both doors unlocked and no signs of forced entry. Nothing was missing, said police Lt. David Drake.

Drake said Belton was stabbed "at least five or six" times in the back and several times in the front of the torso.

The affidavit said police found Belton's journal, which contained an entry saying that he was "very happy" that someone named Michael had entered his life. Police later received a call from Griffin's girlfriend saying she thought her boyfriend might be involved in the slaying.

Officers who searched Griffin's home Monday night found the knife believed to have been used in the killing, Drake said. The affidavit said Griffin had bought the knife before serving as a Marine in Iraq.

Belton, a leading African-American voice in academia, had formerly taught at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Macalester College and the University of Pennsylvania and had lectured at the Sorbonne. He had also written for Newsweek and The Advocate and edited an anthology of essays on black masculinity, according to the Indiana University web site.

English Department Chairman Jonathan Elmer said in a statement that Belton's friends, colleagues and students were "shocked and terribly saddened by the news of his death."

"His great talents as a writer, his extraordinary generosity to his students, and his warmth of personality were gifts to us all. We will miss him terribly," the statement said.

Belton had taught at IU since fall 2008, the statement said.

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by Bob_Eakle October 17, 2010 6:08 AM EDT: "cidaia," are homeless people part of the right wing? We just had a homeless person (Crystal Grubb) murdered here in Bloomington (the same city as Griffin's murder of Belton), and it's one of the top stories in the media here. Nancy Grace even jumped on it.

Belton was at Griffin's home on Christmas Day because Griffin had INVITED him to come there. He had given Belton directions to his house, and Belton had reported in his journal that he was happy a man named Michael had come into his life. Griffin claims Belton sexually assaulted him TWICE in front of his girlfriend. If he was repulsed by Belton's advances, why did he let Belton stay in his home to do it a second time? (Griffin was big and strong; Belton was slight and weak.)

It really sounds as if the two men had sex twice on Christmas Day, and Griffin's girlfriend either watched or participated. "liselle3" is right on target: repulsed by his OWN actions on Christmas Day, Griffin came to Belton's home three days later to have a "discussion"--bringing with him a "peacekeeper" knife, a change of clothes and a plastic bag. He stabbed Belton until he stopped moving. Then he put his knife and bloody clothes in the plastic bag and discarded them in a Dumpster. How many of these details did the Crimesider article reveal?; Reply to this comment


by reesepieces04 January 15, 2010 6:43 PM EST: I'm sorry but do any of you know all of the facts? Are any of you involved in this situation? This is peoples lifes and you all are treating it like some show, I mean let me run and get some popcorn, right? All of you need to learn respect. It makes me sad that this is the world I live in. All you people make me sad, knowing that when there is tradgey in peoples life this is the reaction. Being gossiping hens with your half truths and pre judgments. Fix your own lifes before "trying" know the answers and solutions for others.; Reply to this comment


by Dr_Richard_Trickle January 5, 2010 2:25 PM EST: fyi, in referencing his former military service in the Marines, Griffin should be referred to as a 'former Marine,' not "ex-Marine."; Reply to this comment


by commonsenseplz January 5, 2010 2:00 PM EST: hhh; Reply to this comment


by cidaia January 5, 2010 9:50 AM EST: dnamj, you probably could get away with stabbing a televangelist using the "but he's religious so it's okay" defense. Hate crimes are only crimes when they're perpetrated against the left wing.

Hate crimes against the right wing are up, too - but certainly nobody in the media is interested in emphasizing how "terrifying" it is to get stabbed when it's only a Mormon, or even when it's just a homeless person. Violent crimes against homeless persons are far more frequent, far more violent, far more of a real problem...but they're not hate crimes, because the definition of hate crime has nothing to do with the motive of the perpetrator, and everything to do with whether the victim has an identity worthy of protection.; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt January 5, 2010 7:53 AM EST: And how many homophobes are reading this saying "he had it coming"?

Certainly, way too many.; Reply to this comment


by liselle3 January 5, 2010 4:31 AM EST: It's obvious this is what happened. This guy loathed his own homosexual urges, and killed the object of his affection. Period.; Reply to this comment

by dnamj January 5, 2010 1:54 AM EST

Wow, can I get away with stabbing a televangelist for "bigot panic"? Because those guys really freak me out.

Reply to this comment


by liselle3 January 5, 2010 4:30 AM EST: Too funny...they freak me out too.


by SusanStoHelit January 4, 2010 3:00 PM EST: We can see how well 'gay panic' works as a defense - life in prison! No less than he deserves. Everyone has the occasional sexual advance from someone they find repulsive - whether it's the fat old man who thinks I should be going out with him when I'm 18, or some woman who goes after a guy who finds her totally repulsive.

This is no different - just because you don't like the advances doesn't mean you get to kill. If it's assault or sexual harassment - you talk to the cops.; Reply to this comment