Bledsoe recieves murder charge
OSKALOOSA — The brother of the girl’s brother-in-law was charged Tuesday in the death of the 14-year-old.
The man who led authorities to 14-year-old Zetta Camille Arfmann’s body early Monday in rural Jefferson County was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in her killing.
Thomas E. Bledsoe, 25, was ordered held without bond by Jefferson County District Magistrate Judge Dennis Reiling.
Bledsoe was developed as a suspect in Arfmann’s disappearance during the weekend. Arfmann was last seen Friday afternoon getting off a school bus.
Phone calls Bledsoe made to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department led investigators to believe he might know more about the girl’s whereabouts.
“Right before it came about that he was coming in, he was developed as a suspect,” said Jeff Herrig, Jefferson County Undersheriff. “He made a couple of phone calls indicating he knew more about the case.”
Herrig declined to say what Bledsoe told sheriff’s officers that led them to consider him a suspect.
After the phone calls, Sheriff Roy Dunnaway met with Bledsoe, Bledsoe’s attorney Michael Hayes and County Attorney Jim Vanderbilt. Bledsoe then led sheriff’s officers to Arfmann’s body, which was buried underneath dirt and trash in a ditch northwest of Oskaloosa. Arfmann’s body was found at 2:30 a.m. Monday; Bledsoe was arrested at 2:45 a.m.
Bledsoe has not confessed to killing Arfmann, Herrig said. Neither has he or Hayes offered information for a plea agreement.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Herrig said of the ongoing investigation. “We’ll let the attorneys work out the legal aspects.”
Arfmann’s body was found just north of the home where Bledsoe has lived all his life with his parents, Dunnaway said.
A portion of that property is owned by Bledsoe, it was a bequest to him from his grandmother, Ida Bledsoe, who died in June, according to county records.
During the hearing, Vanderbilt asked that no bond be set for Bledsoe because of the “heinous” nature of Arfmann’s slaying.
“We need to protect the public from it happening again,” Vanderbilt said.
Hayes, an Oskaloosa attorney, said he may request a cash bond be set for Bledsoe at a preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for Dec. 20.
Charges were filed against Bledsoe shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday. The rural Jefferson County man had his first appearance hearing about 3 p.m. in the county courthouse here.
Security was tight around Bledsoe — brought into the courtroom in shackles — as he moved in and out of the courthouse.
Court officials could be heard discussing concerns that “vigilantes” might take some action against Bledsoe.
But, Reiling said security precautions for Bledsoe’s first appearance were not out of the ordinary. And the small, second courtroom was chosen, not to limit the number of people present in court, but because a jury trial was under way in the larger courtroom.
Bledsoe does not face capital murder charges, Reiling said. But, two lawyers from the Death Penalty Division of the Indigent Defense Services Board were in the courtroom observing the hearing. They may assist Hayes if other charges are filed against Bledsoe that would place him at risk of facing the death penalty.
Bledsoe was not required to enter a plea at the first appearance hearing.
Bledsoe is the brother of Arfmann’s brother-in-law, Floyd Bledsoe Jr., according to Dunnaway and family members.
Arfmann died of a gunshot wound. Jefferson County officials declined to release any other information about other injuries the girl may have received.
According to the charges read in the courtroom by Reiling, Arfmann was killed Friday.
Sheriff’s officers, family and friends searched for the 14-year-old honor student during the weekend. She was supposed to attend a church youth group event Friday night. Her absence was not discovered until she failed to arrive at her mother’s home in Winchester, where she was supposed to go following the church event. Family members reported her missing at 12:50 a.m. Saturday.
During the weekend, sheriff’s officers used bloodhounds to search for Arfmann, who was described by friends and family members as a shy, hardworking girl who always wore a smile.
• Erwin Seba’s phone message number is 832-7145. His e-mail address is eseba@ljworld.com.
Timeline: Floyd Bledsoe murder conviction overturned
● May 29, 2016 — Lawsuit filed by wrongfully convicted man details how law enforcement officials allegedly framed him
● May 21, 2016 — Floyd Bledsoe, wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years, pushes to end death penalty in Kansas
● May 10, 2016 — Floyd Bledsoe, wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years, says he was ‘framed,’ files lawsuit against Kansas justice officials
● Feb. 12, 2016 — Wrongfully convicted Floyd Bledsoe seeks videotaped interrogations in Kansas
● Feb. 8, 2016 — Kansas bill would allow $235K for wrongfully convicted man who spent 15 years in prison
● Jan. 18, 2016 — Jefferson County attorney doesn’t expect further action against former sheriff, others involved in wrongful murder conviction
● Jan. 17, 2016 — Bledsoe case spurs measure to allow compensation for wrongful convictions
● Jan. 10, 2016 — Requiring that police interrogations be recorded might have prevented tragedy of wrongful conviction
● Dec. 30, 2015 — ‘Who are you going to tell?’ — Floyd Bledsoe, wrongfully convicted of murder, discusses pain of prison, journey to forgiveness
● Dec. 27, 2015 — 1999 Oskaloosa murder case reopened; possibility that killer ‘had assistance’
● Dec. 13, 2015 — Web of lies, indifference to justice led to wrong Kansas brother being imprisoned for more than 15 years
● Dec. 13, 2015 — Kansas has no law on payouts for wrongly incarcerated prisoners
● Dec. 8, 2015 — Judge throws out 2000 murder conviction, frees Oskaloosa man after 15 years in prison
● Nov. 13, 2015 — Original suspect in girl’s murder dies of apparent suicide as case about to be revisited
● Oct. 21, 2015 — KU Project for Innocence, Midwest Innocence Project seeks to free convicted murderer with DNA evidence
● July 8, 2012 — Objection to DNA testing not likely
● June 20, 2012 — Motion seeks DNA testing in 1999 murder of teen
● Sept. 30, 2009 — Further appeals limited in Bledsoe case
● July 5, 2009 — 1999 murder case won’t settle
● June 28, 2009 — Federal court reverses release in murder case
● Oct. 7, 2008 — Floyd Bledsoe, sentenced to life for murder of teen sister-in-law, set free; ineffective assistance of counsel cited
● Feb. 3, 2007 — Court upholds murder conviction
● Feb. 2, 2002 — Murder conviction is upheld
● Dec. 5, 2001 — Attorneys appeal conviction of teen-ager’s murderer
● Dec. 2, 2001 — Oskaloosa murder case to be heard
● July 15, 2000 — Victim’s family unsure justice was served
● July 15, 2000 — Bledsoe gets life
● July 14, 2000 — Bledsoe sentenced to life in prison
● June 23, 2000 — Bledsoe sentencing delayed
● May 31, 2000 — Lawyer: Mother’s story changes
● April 30, 2000 — Minister supports Bledsoe in spirit
● April 28, 2000 — Bledsoe found guilty
● April 28, 2000 — Bledsoe murder case goes to jury
● April 27, 2000 — Bledsoe charges amended
● April 27, 2000 — Bledsoe prosecution rests
● April 27, 2000 — Bledsoe murder trial wrapping up
● April 26, 2000 — Tom Bledsoe seeks to explain lies
● April 26, 2000 — Bledsoe told his mother he didn’t kill Arfmann
● April 25, 2000 — Pool of potential jurors knows all about case
● April 25 2000 — Trial starts in murder of girl, 14
● April 24, 2000 — Murder trial to begin today
● Dec. 10, 1999 — Family of victim tries to cope with pain, loss
● Dec. 10, 1999 — Murder suspect enters innocent plea
● Dec. 9, 1999 — Murder suspect to be arraigned
● Nov. 30, 1999 — Case pits brother vs. brother
● Nov. 18, 1999 — Friends relieved charges were dismissed against Oskaloosa man
● Nov. 16, 1999 — Wife proclaims husband’s innocence in girl’s death
● Nov. 14, 1999 — In-law jailed in slaying of teen-ager
● Nov. 14, 1999 — Family, friends mourn Camille
● Nov. 10, 1999 — Quiet hearing for defendant charged with girl’s slaying
● Nov. 10, 1999 — Bledsoe recieves murder charge
● Nov. 9, 1999 — Police hold relative of slain girl
● Nov. 9, 1999 — Girl’s death leaves family, children with questions