HULSLEY, Donald - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Indiana State Police and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department are continuing their search today for a motive and suspects in the beating death of Donald Hulsey, 19, whose body was found Sunday in a field two miles west of Williamsport.

  Although Sheriff Loran Wilkie reported that 51 cents in change was found near the body, robbery has not been ruled to be the motive, since it was not known if Hulsey was carrying a wallet.

  State police said Hulsey, whose body was found about 2 p.m., Sunday by a passing motorist, was killed sometime late Saturday or early Sunday. Warren County Coroner Phil Fisher said Hulsey died of multiple skull fractures.

  There were signs of a scuffle in the freshly planted soybean field where his body was found, but no weapon has been found.

  One of Hulsey’s brothers identified his body Monday. The family had reported to police Monday morning that Donald had been missing since Saturday evening. He was last seen leaving the Big Daddy Saturday evening.

  It was thought he might have been staying with friends, but the family sought help Monday when he had not returned home.

  State Police asked anyone who had seen Hulsey after or around midnight Saturday, or if they saw a car in the vicinity of County Road 29, north of Indiana 28, also after midnight to around noon Sunday, to call the Warren County Sheriff Department or the Indiana State Police.

  Hulsey was wearing a black t-shirt with the words “here comes trouble” printed on front. Hulsey was five foot, nine inches, weighed 185 pounds, brown hair and wore glasses. He was also wearing blue jeans.

  Donald Eugene Hulsey, 19, of 308 E. Jackson St., Attica, was born at Williamsport on September 18, 1959, the son of James and Mary Lou Haas Hulsey. He lived all his life in Attica. He was a graduate of Attica High School in 1979.

  He was employed as a clerk at Donna’s Discount Store, Attica, and had formerly been employed at Big Daddy Drive-In. He had attended the Free Methodist Church in Attica. He was a member of the Art Club of Attica High School.

  Surviving besides his parents are the maternal grandmother, Mrs. Alva (Mary) Haas of Attica; maternal great

grandmother, Mrs. Leroy (Carrie) Haas of Veedersburg; two brothers, Elton and Leroy, both at home; three sisters, Miss Theresa Hulsey, at home, Mrs. Raymond (Pauline) Scott, and Mrs. Randy (Debbie) Dotson, both of Attica. – thanks to S

OHHHH SOOO SOOO SAD - I had to know more about this very sad thing so read on

Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier 4 Feb 1986  p 3

"I Never Hurt anybody," House says from Prison" by Dean Olsen

Williamsport - Jeffrey L. House bounces a basketball in his free time, just as he did as a student at Seeger Memorial Jr-Sr HS.  But his time really isn't free anymore.  Instead of thinking about the game, he's worrying about the prospect of 60 years behind bars.  House, 27, an athletic-looking man with short brown hair and a brown mustache was sentenced in October for the 1979 murder of Attica resident Donald Hulsey.  House, also from Attica was the first of four men charged in the crime and he received the stiffest penalty. The fourth man, Jon K. Wood was released Friday as part of a plea agreement in which he received a suspended sentence.  House, serving time at the Indiana State Reformatory near Pendleton has continued to say he's innocent of the crime.  He described some of his feelings after a hearing in Warren County Circuit Court that's part of an appeal of his conviction.  "I didn't kill Donald Hulsey," he said. "I don't care what anybody says.  I know God knows. I've never hurt anybody, not in my whole life. I don't go around beating on people."  
That's not what a jury of six men and six women decided. They apparently believed the testimony of Wood, 34, a Williamsport resident who said he saw House beat Hulsey, then 19 in the back seat of a car early in the morning on June 3, 1979.  Wood said he waited six years to tell police the whole story.  He said he neglected to tell the whole story to police four time prior to July 1985.  But he said in January, I've never felt better to get all this off my chest."

Members of the Hulsey family declined to talk with the Journal and Courier about the case. Elston Hulsey, one of DOnald Hulsey's brothers, said family members don't want people feeling sorry for them and they don't want to recall painful memories.  

House knows many people in the community are convinced of his guilt but he said people shouldn't be fooled by Wood.

"You know as well as I do, anybody can get up in a courtroom, under oath and say anything they want about anybody," House said.

He said he was happy when he heard about the January acquittal of William Scott Talbott, 28 of Attica who also was charged in the incident. But House said the acquittal won't help his own court case.  So now, House must wait in prison during his appeal while his wife, Kelli, 23, and daughter, Amber, 2 live in Attica. House could be paroled in 30 years. The former worker at Attica's C&D Batteries & Allied Co. said recreation at Penleton has helped ease his mind: "I'm playing a lot of basketball right now ... trying to figure out what's going on.  I'm asking myself every night: Why am I here?"

In another article from Journal and Courier 5 June 1979 p 8

badly-beaten body of Donald Hulsey, 19, 308 E Jackson (Williamsport ? Attica? ) found in a newly planted soybean field Sunday afternoon - multiple skull fractures - repeated and severe blows to his head.  Not identified until late Monday morning.  Several made futile murder weapon search.  Found about 70' from Co Rd 29 just north of Ind 28.  Interviewing family & friends to discover any clues.  Apparently taken to the isolated area sometime during the early morning hours Sunday. Fisher said a farmer finished planting the field Sat and moved his equipment from the spot about 9:30 p.m. Farmer returned and found the body about 2 p.m. Sunday.  Indications Hulsey was beaten in field.  Believe 2-3 people involved b/c of # footprints - marks on body indicate held down. He was 5'8" 180# wearing a t-shirt, "Here comes trouble" and blue shorts. His blue jeans were found about 3' away from the body. The pockets of the jeans were empty, so robbery considered.  "Somebody could have killed him for 5 bucks but seems he wasn't carrying a large amount of money.  51 cents lying near.  Also a Coke bottle, pieces of wood.  Police ruled out as murder weapons.  Hulsey apparently left his Attica home 8 p.m. Sat to walk to the Big Daddy Drive In about 7 blocks.  Formerly worked there before working as a clerk at Donna's Discount Store in Attica.  Friends and relatives "nice kid who wouldn't ever hurt anyone," Hulsey also was described by his brother , "just not the type to drink alcohol."  Never in trouble - grad Attica HS two weeks earlier.  Member of art club 4 years and worked as an aide in nurse's office. Mary Evans, dean of student said school officials NEVER had any trouble with Hulsey.

Journal-Courier 12 Dec 1985 p 3
Lawyers for an Attica man convicted in Sept 1979 beating murder charged Wed that the Warren Co prosec withheld evidence that could have cleared their client. Judge Robert Hall of Warren Circuit said Wed lawyers for Jeff House, 26 would be able to introduce new evident when he hears their motion to correct trial errors Jan 3.  House, the first of four men to be tried for the 1979 murder of Attica resident Donald Hulsey is serving a 60-year sentence at the Indiana State Reformatory in Pendleton.

MANY MANY other articles about this oh so sad death