Jury gets case of man accused of killing, mutilating woman

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) — A jury began deliberations Friday in the murder trial of a southern Indiana man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body.

Joseph Oberhansley of Jeffersonville is accused of killing Tammy Jo Blanton. The 46-year-old victim’s body was found at her home the morning of Sept. 11, 2014, badly mutilated with more than 25 sharp force injuries and multiple blunt force injuries, authorities have said. Oberhansley is charged with murder, rape, abuse of a corpse and burglary.

Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull in his closing statement challenged Oberhansley's testimony Thursday as the lone defense witness that he was suffering from head injuries when he was coerced into a confession after nearly three hours of police interrogation following the discovery of Blanton’s body, the News and Tribune reported.

Oberhansley testified “two Black guys” had been at her home when he arrived around 4 a.m. that day and said they were responsible for Blanton’s death and knocking him out. He awoke when police knocked on the door looking for the victim.

Mull asked the jury to consider why the men would have violently killed Blanton but left Oberhansley unconscious without further injury.

“We all know they didn’t do that,” Mull said. “We all know Joseph Oberhansley killed Tammy Blanton.”

Defense attorney Bart Betteau reminded jurors they needed to focus on their duty despite the horrific details of the case.

“You have to be aware that there’s a thought out there that you shouldn’t deliberate on this case (or) take anything I say seriously,” he said. “There might be a thought out there that that’s what people want you to do.

“But you don’t have that luxury. You took an oath,” Betteau added.

Jurors were drawn from Allen County in northeastern Indiana because of the intense media coverage the case has received in the southern part of the state.