IU professor's killing called a 'crime of passion'

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - There are new details in the brutal murder of an IU English professor.

Court documents reveal Bloomington police believe Don Belton was brutally stabbed in a "crime of passion."

Michael Griffin, the man suspected of killing Belton, appeared in court Wednesday for the first time to face the charges.

The probable cause affidavit ( read here ) said Belton wrote in his journal the week before Christmas that, "(Belton) is very happy that an individual by the name of Michael has come into his life."

Police believe that "Michael" is 25-year-old Michael Griffin.

Officers tracked down Griffin after finding a card near Belton's home computer that had his name, phone number, e-mail and directions to his home.

Griffin's girlfriend also told police she thought he may have been involved in Belton's death.

Police said Griffin admitted stabbing Belton several times with a knife he bought before serving in Iraq.

Griffin claimed the attack was the "result of Mr. Belton sexually assaulting him two times on the evening of Christmas."

"He felt Mr. Belton did not show or express any type of feeling that what had taken place was a mistake," the affidavit reports.

Police said Griffin brought a change of clothes with him and dumped his bloody clothes into a garbage can.

Investigators have not been able to recover those clothes.

Griffin will be back in court next Tuesday for a bond hearing.