Stayer pleads not guilty

By Eric Smith/For The Lebanon Reporter

Lebanon June 15, 2009 07:15 pm

— Michael Stayer pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and battery charges Monday stemming from the death of his ex-wife in Whitestown.
Police allege Michael Stayer, 31, Zionsville, repeatedly smashed his ex-wife in the face and head with a hammer, fracturing skull and facial bones. He is being held in the Boone County Jail without bond. Beth Stayer, 33, had been in critical condition at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, since being rushed there following a 9:05 a.m. attack Thursday.
Boone County Prosecutor Todd Meyer said he will be formally charged with murder this week, likely today.
Stayer, 9400 block of Windrift Way, Zionsville, had been arraigned on attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and domestic battery counts Friday morning in Boone Circuit Court.
Murder alone carries a 45- to 65-year prison term; the other crimes carry a maximum combined 29 year sentence.
A jury trial is set for Jan. 19, 2010, in the Boone Superior Court I. When asked whether Stayer will claim he was defending himself, Meyer said Stayer claimed he was struck in the head.
“Up until now, he has no signs of (head) injuries,” Meyer said. He added that the state of Indiana has filed a motion to obtain blood and hair samples.
Beth Stayer, who worked as a nurse for Clarian North Medical Center in Carmel, was found in a room of her condominium in the 6300 block of El Paso St., in an Anson townhouse development, police said. She had lived there about two weeks. The Stayers lived in Zionsville before they were divorced in May.
The couple’s 4-year-old child witnessed the attack, police said.