Manhunt underway for homicide suspect
REELSVILLE -- Authorities believe a domestic dispute led to a homicide that took place in Reelsville this morning.
Jeremy Bledsoe, 31, remains at large. Bledsoe is accused of shooting to death his wife Kathryne, who was found dead at approximately 10:30 a.m. this morning in the couple's home directly across from Reelsville Elementary School in the 7800 block of C.R. 625W.
"There was apparently a domestic situation," said Putnam County Sheriff Steve Fenwick. "The victim was found by the (suspect's) grandmother, who also resides in the house."
Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter filed a Class A felony murder charge against Bledsoe late this afternoon. Shortly after the charge was filed, Putnam County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Headley signed an arrest warrant for Bledsoe.
Indiana code dictates that a person who commits murder be imprisoned for a fixed term of 45 to 65 years, with the advisory sentence being 55 years. Judges may also opt to sentence convicted murderers over the age of 18 to life imprisonment without parole or death.
Putnam County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Doug Nally said two of the Bledsoes' three children -- one 6 years old and the other 20 months old -- were at home when the shooting occurred. The third child, a second-grader at Reelsville Elementary, was in class at the time.
All three children were taken into police custody and are being cared for at an undisclosed location, Nally said.
"We believe (Kathryne Bledsoe) was shot with a shotgun, but I haven't been in to see," Nally said. "The grandmother said she saw what she believed to be a shotgun."
Nally said he believed Kathryne Bledsoe was killed by a single shot, but did not know to what part of her body.
Nally said he had been told that Jeremy Bledsoe was suffering from mental and physical illnesses.
"I've been told schizophrenia, I've been told MS (multiple sclerosis)," he said.
Jeremy Bledsoe is believed to be traveling in a blue 2003 Dodge Caravan minivan with Indianapolis Colts license plate FB5023.
"It's a manhunt," Nally said.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Richard W. Myers said Jeremy Bledsoe is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs about 182 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.
"Bledsoe should be considered armed and should not be approached by the public if located," Myers said. "He could possibly be en route to the Cloverdale area."
After news of the shooting broke, all schools in the South Putnam district were placed on external lockdown. Eventually, all county schools followed suit.
A recorded message sent to parents from Greencastle Community Schools Safety Officer Shawn Gobert said that move was made as a precautionary measure, and that no threats against the school had been made.
Anyone with information on Jeremy Bledsoe's whereabouts is asked to call 653-4114 or 653-5115.