Crown Point interior designer charged with murder of husband in Arizona
by Lori Caldwell lcaldwell@post-trib.com|648-3258 October 29, 2012 5:16PM
Jane Carpenter. | Provided Photo~Sun-Times Media
Maps
Updated: December 1, 2012 6:25AM
CROWN POINT — Jane Leslie Carpenter, owner of Jane Leslie Designs, told acquaintances her late husband was murdered.
But she never mentioned she was the primary suspect in the June 4, 2002, stabbing-beating death of Brent Carpenter, who was 71 when he was found dead in their Prescott, Ariz., home.
“He was sickly. It’s my thinking she was tired of taking care of him. It was quite a task,” Prescott police Capt. Ken Morley said Monday, hours after Carpenter, 61, was arrested at a client’s house in LaPorte.
She is charged with first degree murder, but could face additional charges, Morley said.
Carpenter called police to report finding her husband on their kitchen floor. He had been stabbed in the back with a knife and also had a head wound, possibly from a rock.
Prescott police “don’t have a whole bunch of homicides” and didn’t obtain charges the first time they presented the case. By employing forensic experts, a full-time detective and two cold case investigators, police established a case.
Indiana State Police Detective Chris Campione assisted Prescott police in locating Carpenter and arresting her as she met with one of her design clients. She is being held at LaPorte County Jail awaiting extradition to Arizona.
Carpenter teaches non-credit courses in interior design at Indiana University Northwest. Information on IUN’s Web site about her courses — basic, intermediate and advanced- describe Carpenter as “a most unique person who will have you laughing, learning and craving for more information.”
IUN spokesman Chris Sheid said Carpenter has been teaching the interior design classes since March 2010.
“Appropriate arrangements are being made for the students enrolled in the course,” Sheid said. The next intermediate class is scheduled for Saturday.
Sheid declined further comment.
