Man Pleads Guilty to Wife’s Killing

INDIANAPOLIS — A man who admitted to shooting his wife in the street will spend only a few more months in prison after taking a plea deal.

David Brinker pleaded guilty Wednesday to reckless homicide in the March 6, 2023, killing of his wife, Dorothy Brinker, outside their eastside home. A Marion County judge sentenced him to five years, but with two years suspended and two years of probation, he’ll only serve about 101 more days behind bars after factoring in time served and good behavior.

Brinker told police the gun went off by accident when he tried to stop his wife from driving away. Prosecutors went with a lesser charge rather than risking a jury trial, saying they weren’t sure they could prove intent.

Dorothy had told friends the night before that she dreaded going home. Her husband had been calling, angry, while watching their infant daughter. Hours later, after an argument, Brinker followed her into the street, grabbed onto her truck as she tried to leave, and reached inside for the keys. That’s when the gun went off.

Since then, their 2-year-old daughter has been caring for Dorothy’s relatives. But Child Protective Services has ruled she should be reunited with Brinker once he’s out this summer.