In the early morning hours of Sunday, February 28, 2021, the life of 33-year-old Robert E. 'Trey' Scott, III, was brought to a violent and unexpected end in Muncie, Indiana. A Muncie native and graduate of Yorktown High School, Scott was a father who worked for a tree service and was known for his quick wit and love of sports. His death was not a random act but the culmination of a domestic dispute that had been simmering in the days prior. The chain of events that morning would leave one man dead and two others facing murder charges.
Police were called to the 2200 block of West 9th street around 4:30 a.m. following reports of shots being fired. In the backyard of a house, they discovered Scott suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved fatal. The investigation quickly focused on his ex-girlfriend, Morgan Bell, and her friend, Brandon Hodge. Bell told investigators she had gone to Scott's home with Hodge to retrieve some personal belongings, including an urn containing her child's ashes.
According to court documents, Bell and Hodge circled the house in a silver PT Cruiser before she went inside. When she came out, Scott followed her. A witness reported seeing Scott notice a vehicle in the alley and go to investigate. Hodge, who was waiting in the car, claimed that Scott struck the back of their vehicle with an object he believed to be a gun. In response, Hodge opened the car door and fired a shotgun at Scott. As Scott tried to flee, jumping onto the hood of the car, Hodge fired three more times, striking him in the chest and back. Investigators later found Scott in possession of a pipe wrapped in black electrical tape, but no gun was recovered from the scene.
The subsequent investigation uncovered digital evidence that pointed toward premeditation. Facebook Messenger conversations revealed Bell had written 'just thinking about killing Trey'. Additionally, a search for 'how to clean gunpowder from your car' was found on a friend's phone that was linked to Bell. Both Morgan Bell and Brandon Hodge were arrested and charged with murder. In May 2023, a jury found Morgan Bell guilty of murder and obstruction of justice, though she was acquitted on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Brandon Hodge's trial followed, and he was convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and obstruction of justice, with an added penalty for using a firearm in the commission of the murder. His appeal of the conviction was later denied in October 2024.
