Ep 12. Donna Blanton

Donna Blanton was a mother of three who was arrested and charged with the murder of her husband, Michael Blanton, in their home in Beech Grove, Indiana. The couple had been married for over 20 years, and by all accounts, they seemed like a happy family. However, on the night of February 14th, 2011, everything changed.

When police arrived at the Blanton home, they found Michael Blanton's body lying on the ground with several gunshot wounds. Donna had called 911 and claimed that she had shot her husband in self-defense after he had physically assaulted her. However, as police investigated further, they found several inconsistencies in Donna's story.

During the investigation, police learned that Donna had been having an affair with an old high school friend, Nathaniel Green, who lived in Tennessee. They discovered that Donna and Nathaniel had been planning to run away to start a new life together. In fact, just days before the murder, Donna had withdrawn $100,000 from her husband's retirement account, which she and Nathaniel planned to use to buy a new home in Tennessee.

The prosecution argued that Donna had premeditated the murder of her husband in order to collect on his life insurance policy and retire with her new lover. They presented evidence that Donna had purchased the gun used to kill her husband and had lied to the police in an attempt to cover up her crime. Additionally, they argued that Donna's claims of self-defense were unfounded since Michael had no history of violence.

The defense, on the other hand, argued that Donna had been the victim of domestic abuse and that she had acted in self-defense. They presented evidence that Michael had a history of physical and verbal abuse towards Donna, which had escalated in the weeks leading up to his murder. They argued that Donna had feared for her life and had no other option but to shoot him.

Throughout the trial, Donna maintained her innocence, insisting that she had acted in self-defense. However, the jury didn't buy her story. In May of 2013, Donna Blanton was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 55 years in prison. Nathaniel Green was also charged with murder in connection with the case.

The case of Donna Blanton is a tragic reminder of the dangers of domestic abuse and the deadly consequences that can result from a toxic relationship. It's also a cautionary tale about the risks of greed and betrayal and the high price that people sometimes pay for their actions. The episode of Snapped that covers the case is a gripping and emotional story that will leave viewers with many questions and a lot to think about.