Bledsoe murder trial continued to February

Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Bledsoe

GREENCASTLE -- The Oct. 18 trial for a Reelsville man accused of murdering his wife has been reset and will not happen until next year.

The trial date for Jeremy Bledsoe, 31, was set at a pretrial conference held on May 6. One week was allotted for the trial.

On July 14, Bledsoe's public defender, Todd Sallee, resigned. The court then assigned Sidney Tongret to the case.

To give Tongret more time to prepare, Judge Matthew Headley agreed to continue Bledsoe's trial to Feb. 16, 2011. Any plea agreements must be filed by Feb. 3, 2011.

Bledsoe is charged with felony murder in connection with the Jan. 13 shooting death of his wife, Kathryne.

Bledsoe's trial was originally set for June 21, but was continued until October.

Court documents say Kathryne Bledsoe, 31, died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head. She was exiting the shower in the bathroom of the home she shared with her husband, to whom she had been married for 10 years, and their three children, ages 6 years, 3 years and 20 months.

The two younger children were in the house when the shooting occurred, as was Bledsoe's grandmother, Ava Bledsoe, who lived with the couple and reported the shooting to the police.

According to eyewitnesses, Bledsoe fled the home right after the shooting occurred. He eluded capture for 12 hours before being taken in custody without incident after police conducted a manhunt.

In accordance with a recommendation by the state, Bledsoe has been held without bond in the Putnam County Jail since he was arrested.

Kathryne and Jeremy Bledsoe had been Reelsville residents for two years, and had been married for 10 years. Members of Kathryne Bledsoe's family said Kathryne had been planning to leave her husband and file for a divorce.

Bledsoe has a criminal history of mostly minor offenses, such as public intoxication, illegal consumption of alcohol, resisting law enforcement, driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended.

He had also faced charges of intimidation and battery, but those were dropped.

Murder is a Class X felony, carrying its own set of sentencing criteria. The sentencing range is 45 years to life in prison, with an advisory sentence of 55 years.

However, judges can also opt to sentence convicted murderers to death.

Indiana reinstated the death penalty in 1977, and since then 93 people have been put to death. The last person to be executed in Indiana was convicted multiple murderer Matthew "Eric" Wrinkles, who was put to death at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.

Wrinkles was executed by lethal injection on Dec. 11, 2009.

He has also had counts of intimidation and battery brought against him in the past, but those charges were dismissed.

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  • Fry him.

    -- Posted by LangdonUlger on Wed, Oct 6, 2010, at 9:55 AM
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