Published: November 13, 2009 10:41 pm      

Victim’s son, 5, may testify in trial

A 5-year-old who allegedly saw his mother being beaten to death is one of the witnesses who may be called in the Feb. 1 murder trial of Michael Stayer.

Stayer allegedly bludgeoned Beth Stayer, his estranged wife, with a hammer and other objects on June 12 at her Whitestown apartment. Stayer is charged with murder and two felony counts of neglect of a dependent. The couple had another child, a girl, 2.

The boy is on a list of primary witnesses and exhibits Boone County Prosecutor Todd Meyer may use, according to court records. Other witnesses are police and fire personnel who were at the scene; members of the Marion County Coroner’s Office, and relatives and friends of the victim.

See Saturday's The Lebanon Reporter for more of this story.