Murder suspect enters innocent plea
OSKALOOSA — A Jefferson County man enters an innocent plea in the murder of 14-year-old Camille Arfmann.
Defense and prosecution attorneys argued Thursday about how long it will take to try Floyd Bledsoe, the Oskaloosa man charged with murdering 14-year-old Camille Arfmann.
Jefferson County prosecutor Jim Vanderbilt said it would take three weeks given the amount of forensics evidence he plans to introduce.
But Bledsoe’s defense lawyer, John Kurth of Atchison, disagreed.
“It won’t take three weeks to try the case, I know,” Kurth told the court. “It will take three days.”
Bledsoe, 23, entered an innocent plea to all charges.
Jefferson County District Judge Gary Nafziger set the trial for 9 a.m. Feb. 22. Trial length will be decided later.
Arfmann’s body was found in a ditch on Bledsoe property in Jefferson County in the early morning hours of Nov. 8 after friends and family had reported the girl missing late Nov. 5. Bledsoe was Arfmann’s brother-in-law.
Kurth waived formal reading of the charges against his client.
Nafziger told Bledsoe that if convicted on all counts he faces possible life in prison for first-degree murder, 147 months to 653 months for aggravated kidnapping and 38 months to 172 months for aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Nafziger granted two motions presented at the hearing by Kurth and uncontested by Vanderbilt.
One asked that coroner Dr. Erik Mitchell be ordered to produce a final autopsy report on Arfmann no later than Dec. 30 and to inspect and copy all information that the prosecution or law-enforcement agencies have “to ensure defendant receives a fair and competent defense.”
Nafziger ordered that the information be turned over to the defense as soon as it becomes available.
Among the requested information was “any and all reports … regarding a Mr. Billy Summerville by Zetta Camille Arfmann or Heidi Bledsoe or Floyd Bledsoe.”
Heidi Bledsoe, Arfmann’s sister, is Floyd Bledsoe’s wife. Arfmann had been living with the couple at the time of her disappearance.
When Arfmann first moved in with the couple, they were living in a mobile home park in Oskaloosa. Summerville also lived in the park. Kurth, at Floyd Bledsoe’s preliminary hearing, said Summerville allegedly made inappropriate comments to Arfmann.
Floyd and Heidi Bledsoe moved to the outskirts of Oskaloosa, partially because of the comments, Kurth said.
Authorities originally charged Tom Bledsoe with the murder after he led them to Arfmann’s body on Nov. 8. Tom Bledsoe is Floyd Bledsoe’s older brother.
After almost a week in the Jefferson County Jail, Tom Bledsoe changed his story and pointed the finger at Floyd. Subsequently, Tom Bledsoe was released and Floyd Bledsoe was charged with Arfmann’s murder.
In Floyd Bledsoe’s preliminary hearing Nov. 29, Tom Bledsoe testified against his brother.
Floyd Bledsoe remains in the Jefferson County jail. His bond was set earlier at $500,000.
• Donna Bergmann’s phone message number is 832-7165. Her e-mail address is dbergmann@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