Husband thought wife was cheating, so he beat her to death with a hammer then calmly called 911 and told them 'I did it'

Background: The Indianapolis, Ind. neighborhood where Mary Ogle was found dead (Google Maps). Inset: Terry Ogle (Marion County Jail).

An Indiana man is headed to prison for beating his wife to death with a hammer, calmly telling 911 dispatchers and police "there's been some violence" and "I lost it."

Terry Ogle, a former middle school teacher from Indianapolis, was sentenced on Friday to 15 years in prison after he was convicted last month of voluntary manslaughter following a multiday bench trial in Marion County, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.

Ogle reportedly admitted to killing his 76-year-old wife Mary Ogle in a 911 call and interviews with police, as well as during his trial, according to local Fox affiliate WXIN.

"I did it," Terry Ogle, who was 79 at the time, told a 911 dispatcher on Jan. 17, 2025, after bludgeoning Mary Ogle to death. "Yeah, she's been down for a while."

When asked if he wanted to try doing CPR, Ogle reportedly said, "It's too late."

When Indianapolis Metropolitan Police arrived at the couple's home, Mary Ogle was found lying on her back, covered with a blanket, and bleeding from an injury to her head. Police said in a post on Facebook that she was pronounced dead at the scene by Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services. Terry Ogle was also bleeding, according to court records, apparently from a self-inflicted wound to his left wrist. He was taken to the hospital for treatment while in police custody.

He was originally charged with murder, but was convicted of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. The slaying was defined as happening in the "heat" of the moment, according to WXIN.

During interviews with police, Terry Ogle claimed the reason he killed his wife was "a long story" — citing allegations that Mary Ogle had been cheating.

"I've been under depression for a while," Terry Ogle said. "I think she's having an affair. So, I lost it."

Terry Ogle reportedly texted his daughter after the hammer attack to inform her, "I'm going to jail. I killed Mary."

The Indy Star reported that both Terry and Mary Ogle worked in the education field.

Jamie Frevele contributed to this report.