Sheriff: Winchester man shot ex-wife, killed himself

WINCHESTER, Ind. – Authorities believe a rural Winchester man shot his ex-wife and then fatally shot himself.

Randolph County Sheriff Art Moystner said deputies were sent to a mobile home park in the 3500 block of North Randolph County Road 100-E shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.

A caller to Randolph County’s 911 center reported “someone at the residence had been shot,” the sheriff said in a news release.

Authorities said Charles H. Hodge, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene by Randolph County Coroner Tim Crawford.

Hodge’s ex-wife, Debbie K. Hodge, 56, had also apparently been shot.

She was flown by air ambulance to a Fort Wayne “trauma center,” Moystner said. She continued to be treated there on Monday.

The shootings remain under investigation. Authorities said despite being divorced since 2013, the Hodges lived together in the mobile home where the shootings took place.

In addition to deputies and the coroner, Winchester police, Indiana State Police, Randolph County Emergency Medical Services personnel and Ward Township First Responders reported to the scene.

Court records reflect Charles Hodge, a former Muncie resident, had been convicted of conversion, driving while intoxicated and theft.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.