Muncie woman convicted of murder by jury

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — A Delaware County jury on Thursday found a 28-year-old Muncie guilty of murdering her ex-boyfriend in 2021, the county prosecutor says.

Morgan Bell murdered 33-year-old Robert Scott lll in the early morning of Feb. 21, 2021, the jury decided after five hour of deliberations.

Muncie Police Department officers arrived in the area of West Ninth Street and South Batavia Avenue to find Scott behind West Ninth Street on a concrete slab driveway off of the alley. Scott had gunshot wounds to the chest.

He was taken to the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, where he died.

Witnesses told police that Bell’s friend Brandon Hodge, 30, of Muncie, used a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot Scott three times.

Bell revealed to police that she was physically abused by Scott while they were in a relationship. Evidence collected by police revealed that Bell planned on murdering Scott.

Police arrested Bell. Hodge turned himself in and admitted to trying to cover-up the murder with Bell.

Bell’s sentencing hearing is set for June 8.

Hodge is set to stand trial Dec. 4 on counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and obstruction of justice.