Bledsoe sentencing delayed
photo by: Richard Gwin
OSKALOOSA — Another hearing in the Floyd S. Bledsoe case came and went Thursday, not that residents in this small town seemed to notice.
And the ones who did, said an employee at the Oskie Tavern, a popular hangout, aren’t sure Bledsoe really murdered his 14-year-old sister-in-law last November or, at least, that he acted alone.
“That’s the gist I’m getting, that it wasn’t the right person or that there was more involved,” said Barbara Leger, an employee at the tavern across from the Jefferson County Courthouse, where Bledsoe was scheduled to be sentenced today.
That hearing was delayed at the request of defense attorney John Kurth, who said he wasn’t able to contact all the witnesses he needed for the hearing. Sentencing was rescheduled for 9:30 a.m. July 14.
Bledsoe, 23, was convicted in April at the end of a weeklong trial on felony convictions of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Those charges stemmed from the Nov. 6 disappearance of Camille Arfmann. Her body was found two days later on property owned by Bledsoe’s father. Arfmann had been shot in the head and chest. The upper half of her body was exposed.
Bledsoe’s brother, Tom, led investigators to the body and was initially charged in the case. He recanted his story after a week in jail, saying Floyd Bledsoe had blackmailed him into taking the blame for Arfmann’s death.
Bledsoe faces a possible life sentence for the murder charge alone, with parole not possible for 25 years.
His sentencing for the November crimes has been rescheduled for 9:30 a.m. July 14.
Court services officers also have recommended he pay the costs of Arfmann’s funeral to the Crime Victims Reparation Board. The documents did not indicate the cost of the funeral.
That recommendation delayed Thursday’s hearing. Defense attorney John Kurth wanted witnesses to testify against the proposal, but they had not been contacted by Thursday morning. He asked District Judge Gary for more time to round them up.
Kurth also plans to call his client’s mother, Catherine Bledsoe, in hopes she will recant trial testimony that her son tried to implicate his father in Arfmann’s death.
“Me personally, I think there should be a new trial,” Leger said. “There’s too many discrepancies in the whole thing.”
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