Manhunt underway for homicide suspect

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 ~ Updated 12:36 PM
Jeremy Bledsoe

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.

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  • It's across from Reelsville Elementary, not South Putnam

    -- Posted by voiceofreason2 on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 12:03 PM
  • The Reelsville location was mentioned in the SP's instant alert to parents.

    -- Posted by Balding Eagle on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 12:10 PM
  • All schools are locked down when there is danger in the area. It doesn't have to be in the immediate area either. The school is responsible for the safety of the most precious of lives. They are all one of a kind and irreplaceable.

    It is such a tragic thing to happen. People without hope can do some horrible things. Prayers for the family and everyone involved.

    -- Posted by River Rat on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 1:12 PM
  • At least the BG got the initial info. correct

    -- Posted by BG-reader on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 1:41 PM
  • OMG...I went to school w/Jeremy from 3rd grade up thru high school, however lost contact w/him as an adult. Last time I saw him he was getting involved w/drugs. Jeremy did have a very traumatic childhood, that is why he came to live w/his grandmother whom treated him very well & gave him a normal upbringing. This is just more proof of what can happen w/drugs, or when parents are on drugs, then leave there kids to the side. My prayers to his children & grandmother, PLEASE GET THOSE KIDS INTO THERAPY RIGHT NOW!!

    -- Posted by truthis on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 2:42 PM
  • i wasted about 30 seconds of my life reading your comment jorge, i can never get that 30 seconds back ....thanks alot!

    if i was a betting person , i would put my money on hubby, and his excuse would be drug related.

    we may never really know. another mystery in Putnammmmmmm Countyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

    -- Posted by Sand mann on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 3:00 PM
  • Jorge if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck just might be a DUCK !!!!!!

    It says grandmother was there so maybe there is a eyewitness?

    -- Posted by JrsWife on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 3:12 PM
  • Putnam_hick... You are saying that his Wife lost her life simply for the sake of news!!! Now thats not only ridiculous to say but heartless as well!

    -- Posted by thistownsucks on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 3:32 PM
  • Putnam seems to be a troubled county from the Sherrif down to the residents that live there.... deaths- theft and so on.... glad I live elsewhere!

    -- Posted by Innocent on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 3:41 PM
  • Your missing the point of my comment. I never said he didn't do it. I'm sure he did. It has nothing to do with the facts or merits of this case.

    Any night school graduate of law school defending this guy will try to twist and abuse any statements made to the media by law enforcement to serve their needs. We have seen this over and over again with high profile cases. Scream prejudice and inability to have a fair trial, request a change of venue, and we the tax payers foot the bill.

    My thoughts go out to the family of the victim and I hope our law enforcement officials catch their man.

    -- Posted by jorge on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 3:59 PM
  • WOW Innocent-Unless you have died and gone to Heaven, I am sure your town is as messed up as the rest of the World.lol

    -- Posted by frankie07 on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 4:19 PM
  • Ditto on frankie07 's comment! I was thinking the same thing -- Innocent must live in Utopia.

    -- Posted by BG-reader on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 4:22 PM
  • I think everyone is missing the bigger picture here!!!! Let's stop arguing about things about the story and start praying about the little boy who had to find out that his mom is dead. Most of us are fortunate enough not to experience such a tramatic ordeal. I know I will be praying for those children and the grandma!

    -- Posted by littleflower35 on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 4:27 PM
  • "This Court has declared that one accused of a crime is entitled to have his guilt or innocence determined solely on the basis of the evidence introduced at trial, and not on grounds of official suspicion, indictment, continued custody, or other circumstances not adduced as proof at trial." Estelle v Williams

    But I do not agree with this. I feel sorry for the family.

    -- Posted by ptnmctyrsdnt on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 4:47 PM
  • I was told that they caught him and that helicopters followed him to Cloverdale. Is this true?

    -- Posted by jm46135 on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 5:07 PM
    Response by Banner Graphic:
    No, it is not. According to Doug Nally, as of 5:38 p.m. the suspect was still at large.
  • littleflower35,

    what about praying for Jemery, he too is one of God's children.

    ptnmctyrsdnt

    like to have what you are on.....Wake up

    I feel for this family or any family whom looses a loved one

    -- Posted by Sand mann on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 5:15 PM
  • It is hard to believe that something like this can happen in our community, but what is even harder to believe is that our "appointed" sheriff doesn't have the basic understanding of a U.S. citizens rights. Well lets just hope the "appointed" can even find him before someone else gets hurt.

    -- Posted by worrieddaddy on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 5:45 PM
  • just like the moronic public to begin to persicute law enforcement instead of pushing to help find this idiot before he kills someone else. Leave the Sheriff alone, he has enough to try and get dealt with right now beside the fact of having to defend himself to you fools. Grow up. He may be the "appointed sheriff" but he is all we have right now...cut him a break and concentrate on bigger things.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts=idiot on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 6:01 PM
  • As a parent, I would just like to know why Greencastle parents weren't made aware of the lockdown until after the close of school today?

    -- Posted by churchmouse on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 6:19 PM
  • your a fool...when you dont make mistakes, you can speak to me again, until then go blast someone else. Right or wrong, the sheriff and his people are doing the best they can. Im sure that if you were in his shoes, you wouldnt say the exact right and perfect statement while trying to see that duties are taken care of. Go preach to someone that wants to hear it.

    -- Posted by dreadpirateroberts=idiot on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 6:37 PM
  • Eagle78,

    just a thought , go out of the county for a trial.

    maybe someone is a witness, no that dont happen..the funny part of the stupidity is . Mr. Fenwick wont even read this. more important things to do. so i guess u r the joke again.

    -- Posted by Sand mann on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 7:33 PM
  • Jorge,

    Wouldn't similar statements made by law enforcement describing the events that took place during the investigation be in a Probable Cause Affidavit? Furthermore, isn't that Affidavit public record?

    just asking?

    -- Posted by Nick | Nack on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 7:39 PM
  • My thoughts and prayers go out to Kaytherines family and her children. Those 3 children now have to live their lives knowing their father took their mother from them and its sad. For a child to lose a parent in this manner is awful. But those three innocent children need to be told every day that they have their own very special guardian angel up in heaven looking down on them and protecting them.

    As, for Jeremy .... man it sucks he could do this (if he did or didn't). He has taken the mother of his children from them and he will never see his kids grow up and become adults. this is a tragic situation and those children are the ones who are gonna need all of our prayers and loving support. May GOD BLESS THOSE THREE INNOCENT CHILDREN AND HELP PROTECT THEM AND SHELTER THEM!!!!!

    -- Posted by gcastle_hater on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 7:42 PM
  • Some of these folks watch WAYYY to much television.

    -- Posted by A Mad Bovine on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 7:56 PM
  • uttersillyness: you either work for the sheriff or have never seen them work

    -- Posted by worrieddaddy on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 8:48 PM
  • I guess for Jorge,Sandman,Innocent,eagle 78 and worriedaddy there is nothing better to do than sit behind your computer and spew ignorance towards the Sheriff. Meanwhile a woman has been shot to death by her husband and three kids have lost there parents, people lost there son and there duaghter today and you are worried about a comment the county sheriff made that could have been misrepresented,misunderstood or just a flat out lie. So get on the right side of things. The Sheriff is doing his job better than any Sheriff in recent memory, he is a good man and he is not perfect and neither are you. GO PRAY FOR THE KIDS!!!!!!!!!!

    -- Posted by the truth be told on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 9:07 PM
  • It was a tragedy that happened today that will forever change the lives of innocent children. I would think that this would be the topic of all of your concerns. However, idol gossip about the sheriff seems to catch your interest. Today the children will never get to spend another waking momment with their mother. My heart aches how their lives will be forever changed. Tonight I will get to put my little one to bed and say prayers but they don't get that with their mother. Take the time to think what really matters. My prayers to the family and friends.....

    -- Posted by sweetnovember on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 9:12 PM
  • Sweetnovember knows what is important.Prayer for these people not bashing and thrashing law enforcement.

    -- Posted by the truth be told on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 9:18 PM
  • hello to all the amazing people who do nothing wrong. do u really beleive that we can go thru life with no mistakes? do we not faulter under extreme situations? most of us do. i do quite often! glad the bg dont print everytime i mess up at work. we got to get real. people lie, cheat, steal and kill everyday in our world. yes your neighbor and family members are part of that group. why are we totally shocked and surprised when somebody does something wrong? we see it everyday and still cant beleive it. well beleive it! steve fenwick is not in the press or on tv everyday, he is not investigating a murder scene once a month, he rarely even goes to a crime scene. i am sure every officer there did something wrong. it was a murder scene. how many have we had in 20 years? less than 5? i have learned many things in my profession but remembering all the procedures to the ones i rarely encounter is hard to do. i admit ive messed up, we all mess up. people it is time to get happy and smile for once. it makes u feel better, look better and work better.

    -- Posted by badboy46120 on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 9:48 PM
  • I teach at one of the county schools and did not hear about this till I saw it on the evening news. However our school is always locked so it wouldn't have made a difference to have a lock down. I think the other schools are also always locked.

    -- Posted by teach4ever on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 10:29 PM
  • Jeremy is in custody. Happened around 11:30 PM south of Cataract.

    -- Posted by voiceofreason2 on Wed, Jan 13, 2010, at 11:53 PM
  • WOW!! I'm truly amazed at how they was able to find a suspect at large so quick. It doesn't normally happen that quick in other places.

    -- Posted by valdostas on Thu, Jan 14, 2010, at 5:44 AM
  • the truth be told ,

    maybe you should have ur children read my comments for you , I SUPPORT Steve Fenwick 100%.But u r rite about nothing better to do than read ur stupid comments. u make me feel so smart, but if a 3rd grader read it , they would feel smart with ur comments. u pay me to sit home watch cable, internet, and eat good....thank you

    -- Posted by Sand mann on Thu, Jan 14, 2010, at 9:42 AM
  • Every time there is an indictment for any crime - it is an officer of the court saying "we think he did it". Any crime that results in charges is because someone is convinced that so and so "pretty much sure he did it". This is no conflict with the presumption of innocence that comes before the court, no more so than the accused saying "no, I didn't". That's why we have courts. Prisons are full of innocent people - if you ask the inmates.

    Sad fact is, these children have lost both parents, life just got incredibly harder for the grandparents and extended family and not one thing was settled by the cowardly act of killing.

    Praying for all involved.

    -- Posted by countyboy on Thu, Jan 14, 2010, at 10:52 AM