INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A judge this week convicted a 40-year-old Indianapolis man of the murder of a 31-year-old woman in 2023.

Troy Briscoe will be sentenced May 9 in Marion Superior Court 32 for the shooting death of Sabrina Cowen.

Prosecutors relied heavily on circumstantial evidence to establish what happened on the night of Feb. 13, 2023, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement in a news release issued Thursday.

Officers were called just before 10 p.m. Feb. 13, 2023, to the 3500 block of West 12th Street. That in the Andorra Park housing addition that’s a few blocks southwest of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Officers found Cowen lying in her yard with a gunshot wound. She died from her injuries about an hour later at a hospital.

Upon entering Cowen’s home, investigators found several signs of a struggle, including broken fingernails, a shell casing, and a pair of glasses on the floor, prosecutors said.

Neighbors told investigators that they heard a “boom” followed by screaming around 9:30 p.m. on the night of the murder.

Witnesses informed detectives that Briscoe and Cowen had a violent relationship, and Cowen had recently indicated she was “done” with him. According to prosecutors, Briscoe’s behavior had been described as erratic and threatening.

Prosecutors said home security footage from a nearby home showed Briscoe entering Cowen’s residence before the shooting and fleeing the scene shortly after. They also said data put Briscoe’s cellphone location near the crime scene before, during and briefly after the murder.

Also, his DNA was found on multiple beer bottles and a cigarette butt at the shooting scene, prosecutors said.

Ryan said in the statement, “We are pleased that this verdict may provide Ms. Cowen’s loved ones a sense of peace knowing that the defendant will be held accountable for his actions.”

Online court records show Judge James K. Snyder had a bench trial ahead of his verdict. He also dismissed a felony count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violence felon.

Help is available for victims of domestic violence. Below is a list of suggested resources on the Domestic Violence Network website:

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) –   Cloudy and chilly start across the state this morning. Breezy and cooler with sunshine this afternoon. A warmer weekend is in store with temperatures climbing above normal.

TODAY:  Cloudy conditions to start off your Friday morning. Even a few very light showers across parts of southern Indiana. We will see clouds decrease throughout the day today as high pressure gets closer to the state. Winds will be a bit breezy out of the north and may gust at times around 20 mph. So a breezy but sunny afternoon with high temperatures right around 53. We are going to be about 10 degrees below normal for this time of the year.

TONIGHT:  Clear and chilly overnight tonight. Low temperatures will fall around the freezing mark here in Indianapolis but outside of the city temperatures may fall into the upper twenties. We do have a freeze warning that goes into effect at midnight and continues until about 9 Saturday morning.

THIS WEEKEND: A frosty start to your Saturday morning with temperatures around freezing. A warmer weekend is in store across much of the state. Look for lots of sunshine for the afternoon on Saturday and it is going to be warmer. High temperatures climb right around 60 on Saturday so close to normal for this time of year. On Sunday we will look for partly cloudy skies. A little more cloud cover to end out the weekend but it will be warmer with high temperatures into the mid ’60s.

7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: Another storm system arrives on Monday. This brings us mostly cloudy skies and a chance for some showers, even a few thunderstorms. Some of the thunderstorms may be on the stronger side in Southeastern sections of Indiana. High temperatures climb into the upper ’60s near 70 on Monday. 

Cooler conditions but lots of sunshine on Tuesday. High temperatures climb into the mid ’50s. Partly cloudy Wednesday near 60 and some more rain chances arrive on Thursday under mostly cloudy skies with  highs into the mid and  upper ’60s. 

After merging the Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to become IMPD in 2007, nearly 20 years later, Chief Chris Bailey said he doesn’t think the department created an identity with the merge. One of his goals is to have a clear vision and wants officers and community members alike to help.

He and other department leaders are asking for input from the community via a short, anonymous survey for a strategic plan for the future. The department has already reached out to its rank-and-file to get their thoughts.

“I want to speak directly to our officers. I’ve heard you say you feel unheard by your leadership,” Bailey said during a press conference Thursday. “This is your opportunity to speak up and have a voice. Your experience, ideas and frontline perspectives are essential to shaping the department’s future.”

Bailey said the department tried a strategic plan in 2019, but COVID impeded those objectives, and the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police changed the focus of the department with racial reform.

This strategic plan will serve as a guiding document for the next five years, helping IMPD remain adaptable and responsive to the evolving needs of the community and its officers, the department announced.

Officers, professional staff, and community input are essential 

Sworn officers and professional staff will have multiple opportunities to contribute their ideas and perspectives on enhancing the department, according to a news release on the plan.

The anonymous surveyfor residents focused on getting feedback on what they want from their police department in the coming years. The survey can be found online at indy.gov/activity/impd-strategic-plan.

IMPD: Confronted with growing language barriers, Indy police struggle with interpretation

Collaborating with Taylor Advising on the process

To keep the approach neutral, the department has partnered with Taylor Advising, a local woman-owned business that specializes in expert consulting services with equity at the forefront. Taylor Advising will facilitate conversations with officers, professional staff, major stakeholders and community members to gather input.

As an objective voice, Taylor Advising will assist in compiling key insights to develop a plan that reflects the community, officers and professional staff, the department said. 

IMPD’s 5-year strategic plan

According to the department, this plan will establish a “clear vision, set meaningful goals, and create a roadmap that strengthens both public safety services and internal operations while addressing the needs of officers, professional staff, and the Indianapolis community.”

In the coming months, Taylor Advising said it will host public listening sessions, and we will share details once they are confirmed.

A timeline of this strategic plan

The anticipated timeline for the strategic plan development is as follows:

• April 2025: Taylor Advising to begin department and community input collection.
• June 2025: All input collection will close.
• November 2025: A first draft of the strategic plan will be made available for public review and comment.
• January 2026: IMPD will announce and implement the final strategic plan.

Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.