Don Belton was an associate professor at Indiana University, Bloomington. He was the author of a novel, Almost Midnight, and editor of Speak My Name, an anthology exploring the gulf between real and represented black masculinity. Belton’s writings have appeared in literary reviews, literature anthologies, cultural journals, and popular magazines and newspapers.

He was murdered in his home on Sunday, December 27th 2009.

His accused killer Michael J. Griffin, 25, told police he visited Don Belton on Sunday to confront the 53-year-old assistant professor of English over two alleged sexual assaults.
An argument and scuffle ensued. Griffin told police he stabbed Belton with a 10-inch military style knife after Belton failed to “show or express any type of feeling that what had taken place was a mistake.”

A friend who came to Belton’s home in Bloomington on Monday found his body in the kitchen, authorities said. Police who were called to the scene found both doors unlocked and no signs of forced entry. Nothing was missing, said police Lt. David Drake.

Drake said Belton was stabbed “at least five or six” times in the back and several times in the front of the torso.

The affidavit said police found Belton’s journal, which contained an entry saying that he was “very happy” that someone named Michael had entered his life. Police later received a call from Griffin’s girlfriend saying she thought her boyfriend might be involved in the slaying.

Officers who searched Griffin’s home Monday night found the knife believed to have been used in the killing, Drake said. The affidavit said Griffin had bought the knife before serving as a Marine in Iraq.