Bio 

John Edward Ingle was born on October 29, 1949, in Indiana. Ingle and Debbie were married for approximately 25 years. According to the case summary, they married after Ingle’s release from federal custody, when Debbie was 17 years old. Their marriage was marked by repeated domestic violence, and Debbie reportedly attempted to leave him several times. Each time, Ingle used intimidation or force to keep her in the relationship.

By July 1996, Debbie had moved out and made clear that she would not return to the marriage. Ingle then began watching and following her. Records state that he used disguises and borrowed vehicles while keeping her under surveillance for several weeks before the murder.

Murder Story

On July 27, 1996, John E. Ingle went to the restaurant where his estranged wife, Debbie Chaffin Ingle, worked as a waitress in Floyd County, Indiana. He wore a disguise and carried a loaded handgun. According to the Indiana Supreme Court, Ingle’s stated plan was to force Debbie to leave the restaurant and return to him, as he had done in the past.

Debbie recognized him and called out his name. She told co-workers to call the police. Ingle then shot her seven times with the handgun and fled the restaurant. Debbie died from the gunshot wounds.

Within minutes, police confronted Ingle on the street. During the encounter, he shot a New Albany police officer three times, including once in the back. The officer survived because he was wearing a protective vest, but he suffered serious injuries. Ingle fled again and was later arrested.

Ingle was convicted of murder, attempted murder, and attempted kidnapping. On November 19, 1998, he was sentenced to death. The death sentence was based on aggravating circumstances that included lying in wait and attempted kidnapping.

On May 8, 2001, the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed Ingle’s murder and attempted murder convictions but reversed the attempted kidnapping conviction and vacated the death sentence. The court found insufficient evidence to support the attempted kidnapping aggravator and ruled that the evidence did not establish lying in wait under Indiana law. The case was sent back for resentencing.

On June 20, 2001, Floyd Superior Court resentenced Ingle to 65 years for murder and 50 years for attempted murder, to be served consecutively, for a total of 115 years in prison. The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the sentence in 2002. John E. Ingle later died on November 24, 2009, while imprisoned in Indiana.