GRAND FORKS, ND (trfnews.i234.me)—A Grand Forks man is set to plead guilty to two felony charges stemming from years of alleged domestic abuse against his late wife, Whitney Temple, including physical violence while she was hospitalized for cancer treatment.
Case Background
- Defendant: Joshua Jon Temple, 41
- Charges:
- Class B Felony – Endangering an Eligible Adult
- Class C Felony – Terrorizing
- Dismissed Charges (if plea accepted):
- Class C Felony – Domestic Violence
- Class A Misdemeanor – Domestic Violence
History of Abuse
- April 5, 2024 – Grand Forks law enforcement responded to Altru Hospital for a report of an unwanted subject with a history of violence.
- Whitney Temple told police she had endured years of physical and verbal abuse since 2020.
- She reported that Joshua Temple had been physically violent during a hospital visit the night before.
- Medical staff confirmed she had been deprived of medical services, worsening her condition.
Shocking Medical Letter
Doctors at Altru Hospital provided a letter to law enforcement stating:
“There is no doubt in my mind that if she were to return to his care, she likely would not survive another abuse. Her medical conditions put her at even greater increased risk of death.”
Physical Evidence of Abuse
- Police observed extensive injuries on Whitney Temple, including:
- One black eye and a bruised second eye
- A bruised handprint on her face
- Bruising on her arms, legs, back, and ear
- Minor lacerations in various stages of healing
- March 30, 2024 Incident: Joshua Temple allegedly slapped her multiple times, shoved her against a wall, and made a chilling statement:
“I should just stab her in the jugular and be done with it.”
Whitney Temple’s Death & Legal Motions
- Whitney Temple later passed away.
- An autopsy confirmed her cause of death as cancer complications.
- June 2024 – Joshua Temple’s attorney requested a change of venue, citing media influence, but the motion was denied.
Upcoming Court Dates & Plea Deal
- Change-of-Plea Hearing: February 10, 2025, at 9 a.m.
- Sentencing Hearing: March 28, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
- Plea Agreement Terms:
- 5-year prison sentence
- 2 years of supervised probation
- Defense allowed to argue for a reduced sentence & unsupervised probation
- Mandatory completion of domestic violence offender program
- Follow all mental health evaluation recommendations
- Plea Agreement Terms:
The case has drawn significant public attention, with advocates highlighting the tragic impact of domestic violence. Updates will follow as the case moves forward.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me