David Campbell was found guilty on all charges after a four-day trial in Starke Circuit Court.
Campbell was found guilty murder, two Level 1 Felony counts of burglary, two Level 2 Felony counts of burglary, two Level 3 Felony counts of burglary, two Level 3 Felony counts of aggravated battery, one Level 4 Felony count of burglary, two Level 5 Felony counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, and two Class A Misdemeanor counts of battery resulting in bodily injury.
According to testimony, Campbell broke into the home of Connie and Hank Bailey August 3 and battered both of them with serious bodily injury as he wanted to take cash out of a safe. He also took their phones and threw them in a neighbor’s yard. Hank Bailey was able to give his account of what happened during the incident to the jury. He said both he and Connie were sprayed with pepper spray and that they were both hit in the head. He testified that the assailant was wearing a black ski mask. They were both able to give statements to police following the incident before going to the hospital for treatment.
Further extensive investigation by the Hamlet Police Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of 40-year-old David Campbell at the Red Rock Inn in Plymouth August 6.
Connie Bailey passed away August 16 due to complications from blunt force trauma to the head, according to testimony from the pathologist who conducted her autopsy.
Testimony was also given that Campbell’s DNA evidence was see found on a tan bandana found across the street from the Bailey residence near a black ski mask. The bandana was found by the neighbor a few days after the incident
A co-defendant in the case, Ashley Bierod, testified for the State of Indiana who said Campbell had a plan to do this. Several witnesses at the Red Rock Inn testified that she and David Campbell were seen leaving the hotel early in the evening Friday, August 2 in a borrowed car and arriving back in the early morning hours Saturday, August 3. A search warrant for cell phone data showed a phone that they shared was in the area at the time of the incident, according to testimony.
Bierod’s case is still pending. A plea agreement has been filed in her case. She still is presumed innocent until the conclusion of her case.
Several witnesses testified for the State of Indiana represented by Starke County Prosecuting Attorney Leslie Baker. David Campbell was represented by Defense Attorney Alex Hoover. Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall presided over the trial.
A 12 member jury returned verdicts of guilty in about an hour.
Campbell will be sentenced Monday, November 18 at 11 a.m. CT in Starke Circuit Court.
