Federal court reverses release in murder case

Convict’s bond revoked

Convicted murderer Floyd Bledsoe’s release from prison will be short-lived, as the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals last week reversed a September decision by a lower federal court granting his release from prison based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

Bledsoe, 32, was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated indecent liberties with a child in Jefferson County for the 1999 killing of his 14-year-old sister-in-law, Zetta “Camille” Arfmann. Bledsoe was sentenced to life in prison for the murder that occurred near Oskaloosa.

Attorney Alice White from the Paul E. Wilson Defender Project at Kansas University, who represented Bledsoe in his appeals, said Bledsoe had been living under a supervised bond after Federal Judge Richard Rogers of Topeka granted his release last year. White said Bledsoe’s bond had been revoked Friday and when she spoke with him by phone, he was on his way to turn himself into authorities.

White said she was disappointed in the decision and that she continues to believe in Bledsoe’s innocence.

“We’re pretty devastated,” she said.

White said that the Defender Project will continue to assist Bledsoe, though the options, which include asking the 10th Circuit to review the case, are limited following the decision.

Bledsoe’s case was appealed to the federal courts after his convictions were upheld by the Kansas Supreme Court in 2002.

The reversal came after the Kansas Attorney General’s Office appealed the September ruling that freed Bledsoe, which cited ineffective assistance of counsel.

Arfmann’s body was found Nov. 7, 1999, on land owned by Bledsoe’s family after she went missing three days before.

Bledsoe’s brother, Tom Bledsoe, originally confessed to the crimes and was initially charged in Arfmann’s murder. The gun used to kill Arfmann was owned by Tom, and he led police to her body.

However, Tom later recanted his statements and implicated Floyd as the murderer. Tom was released from jail and Floyd was arrested and charged with the murder.

Floyd Bledsoe has continually maintained his innocence of the crimes, White said.

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