Opinion ID: 2082252
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: The evidence most favorable to the verdict reveals the following. Vance and his mother had a tumultuous relationship. On several occasions prior to her death, he had threatened to kill her. On August 9, 1991, when his mother was murdered, Vance was fifteen years old. Vance's mother died of a blunt force injury to her head and stab wounds to the neck. Evidence at the crime scene suggested a violent struggle. Blood was spattered throughout several rooms of the home; blood and hair traces were found on several household instruments including a toaster, hammer, glass mug, and casserole dish. The day before the killing, a neighbor heard Vance ask Danny Simpson if they were gonna do it. Simpson responded that a plan was necessary. On the afternoon of the murder, Simpson and Vance arrived at Simpson's girlfriend's home in a car belonging to Vance's mother. Both had blood on their clothing and bodies. After being dropped off in Indianapolis, Vance was seen walking down the street with blood on his left arm and side. The police were telephoned. Vance told them that Simpson had killed his mother. Vance was taken into custody. Two days later, he told his grandfather that he had murdered his mother. While in jail awaiting trial, Vance told several inmates how Simpson and he together had killed his mother. Simpson and his girlfriend drove the victim's car to Tennessee. During that trip, Simpson told his girlfriend that Vance had killed his mother. In a separate trial, Simpson was convicted of murder and robbery. See Simpson v. State (1994), Ind. App., 628 N.E.2d 1215, trans. pending.