HAMILTON — A family is in shock, grieving and praying for answers in the shooting death of a woman who they said "trusted everyone."

Funeral arrangements are being made for 32-year-old Gloria Marie Applegate, who was found early Sunday morning, June 1, shot to death in an alley behind South 11th Street. Butler County Coroner Dr. Richard Burkhardt, who conducted an autopsy on Monday, June 2, has ruled the death a homicide and police are asking for help in finding answers in the killing.

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Gloria ApplegateClick to enlarge

Applegate was shot in the head in the alley where her naked body was found, Burkhardt said. Citing the ongoing investigation, Burkhardt did not release other details.

Burkhardt's findings are of little comfort to Don and Alice Applegate, of Trenton, who spoke to their niece by phone every week. Don Applegate said his niece had mental problems and that he "begged her" to get off the streets and come home.

Alice Applegate said she hopes leads don't grow cold.

"If she'd took her own life it would have been different. That's what hurts so bad," she said. "We don't have a disease to blame or an accident. We don't have anyone to blame because we don't know who did this to her."

Gloria Applegate is survived by her mother, father, two sisters, a brother and two children — J.R., 12, and David, 16. She will be buried Thursday, June 5, at the Laurel North Cemetery, in Laurel, Ind. Visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the Urban Winkler Funeral Home, 513 W. 8th St. in Connersville, Ind.

Meanwhile, police are urging anyone may have information to come forward.

Crews were called to the alley where the body was found at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, according to police.

Witnesses have been limited to the person who found the body and a couple of people who heard a gunshot, said Hamilton Lt. Scott Scrimizzi.

Applegate was arrested for disorderly conduct and having an open container of alcohol at around 5:15 p.m. Saturday, according to police records. Police said she was released at around 11:30 p.m. It was about that time that Applegate was seen buying wine at Minnick's Drive Thru on East Avenue, according to a worker there.

Anyone with information should contact detective Jim Smith at (513) 868-5811, Ext. 1282, or the investigations unit at Ext. 2002.

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