Residents of Questend Drive South on the northwest side of Indianapolis were startled when they glanced outside and witnessed a swarm of police officers on Friday afternoon.
Robert Smith, a resident who lives near the scene, expressed his disbelief, stating, “I never imagined anything like this would happen.”
On January 17th at 1 p.m., the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) received a distress call from a 79-year-old man residing in the 2800 block of Questend Drive South. The man reported that he had fatally assaulted his wife, 76-year-old Mary Ogle (formerly known as Mary Embry), at their residence near West Kessler Boulevard North Drive and Lafayette Road.
The revelation of their secret sent a wave of shock through the neighborhood and left their family stunned. This was especially surprising considering Mary’s previous occupation as a teacher and his role as a former principal at Forest Manor Middle School. It’s worth noting that the school, which was once part of Indianapolis Public Schools, has since closed its doors.
According to an IPS spokesperson, Mary was born in 1970 and retired in 2006. Similarly, her husband was hired in 1978 and also retired in 2006.
According to court documents, the suspect’s daughter stated that she attempted to phone her father’s landline but received no answer. She said she became concerned and contacted her father’s neighbor.
When officers asked the girl if she had communicated with her father, she allegedly said, “No.” Police said the girl then admitted to receiving a text message from her father saying, “I’m going to jail.” “I killed the victim.”
According to court filings, the suspect told dispatchers that he used a hammer during the initial 911 call. He then allegedly told dispatch, “She is dead.” Yeah, she has been down for a while.” When dispatch asked whether he wanted CPR instructions, he allegedly responded, “It’s too late.”
According to court filings, when dispatch asked the suspect what he and Mary were arguing about, he replied, “It’s a lengthy tale; I’ve been down for a while. So we weren’t arguing—I just lost it. I believe she’s having an affair. I believe she was having an affair. So, I’ve lost it.”
Smith said the couple was always upbeat and made excellent neighbors.
“They would walk the entire neighborhood holding hands, talking to each other. They would stop and talk to me once in a while. They were nice people,” Smith said. “I just didn’t think anything like this would happen around here.”
The guy accused of killing Mary has been arrested for murder, but the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has yet to bring formal charges against him.
We ask anyone with more information about the event to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.