Ronald Lee McClure, 50, Indianapolis, is accused of a Level 1 felony count of attempted murder as well as right other crimes.
HANCOCK COUNTY — The prosecution looked to bolster its case with the testimony of an expert health official during the second day of the attempted murder trial of Ronald Lee McClure in Hancock County Superior Court 1.
An Indiana University Health expert, Barbra Bachmeier, took the stand late Wednesday, Feb. 23. Bachmeier is an advanced practice forensic nurse specializing in forensic injuries. She described to the jury of five women and seven men every injury the victim sustained during a stabbing that left the victim fighting for her life last spring.
McClure, 50, Indianapolis, is facing multiple charges in the attack on a woman identified as his estranged girlfriend. The attack occurred outside of the Speedway store at 5972 W. U.S. 40 in Hancock County, May, 8, 2021. McClure faces a Level 1 felony count of attempted murder; a Level 2 felony count of attempted kidnapping; a Level 3 felony count of armed robbery; a Level 5 felony count of stalking; a Level 6 felony count of criminal recklessness; two Level 6 felony counts of auto theft; and two misdemeanors.
Deputy chief prosecutor Aimee Herring walked the health official through several pages of information detailing all injuries the victim sustained during the encounter including when she was punched in the head, stabbed in the torso and fell onto the ground as she escaped from a moving vehicle she said was driven by McClure.
Bachmeier noted she did a forensic examination of the victim to record the history of the event following the victim’s open heart surgery, which was needed to save her life.
“It’s import to document what the patient has been through for a medical diagnosis,” Bachmeier said. “The victim was a good historian on what had happened to her, and she maintained good eye contact.”
In addition to open heart surgery, the victim suffered a punctured lung that had to be dealt with as well as nerve and tissue damage in other areas as a result of being stabbed multiple times, Bachmeier said. The victim sustained head, face, shoulder, hand, finger, elbow and other body bruises and abrasions during the encounter.
Bachmeier described dozens of injuries that were uncovered through a head to toe mapping of the victim that did not include the major stab wounds that were still covered up by bandages.
“He was really getting into it,” Bachmeier said she was told by the victim as the victim described the attack.
“She said he (McClure) was grunting as he was stabbing her,” Bachmeier said as members of the jury listened intently.
The victim had already told the jury earlier in the day she spent over a week in the hospital recovering from the injuries and had to live with others for 12 weeks while she learned to walk and take care of herself again. The victim noted she’s still attending therapy sessions.
Prosecutor Brent Eaton called several law enforcement officials to the stand Thursday, Feb. 24 and introduced evidence. Eaton was hoping to rest the state’s case as soon as late Thursday, he said. It is not known if the defense will call any witnesses, meaning the jury could have gotten the case late Thursday after print deadline or early this morning following closing arguments by both sides and instructions to the jury from Judge D. J. Davis, who is overseeing the case.
