Jury found for trial of man who ate parts of woman
September 10, 2020By The Associated Press
FORT WAYNE — A jury was seated Wednesday to hear the case of a southern Indiana man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body in 2014.
Prosecutors and attorneys for Joseph Oberhansley selected the remaining five jurors and alternates needed Wednesday for the Jeffersonville man's trial on murder, rape and burglary charges in Tammy Jo Blanton’s killing.
Jury selection began Tuesday in northeastern Indiana's Allen County, but the 12 jurors and four alternates will hear the case against Oberhansley, 39, in southern Indiana's Clark County.
The court will now make arrangements for their travel to Clark County for the remainder of the trial, with opening statements scheduled to start Friday morning, the News and Tribune reported.
Prosecutors say Oberhansley broke into Blanton’s Jeffersonville home in September 2014, raped her, fatally stabbed the 46-year-old, and ate parts of her body.
Oberhansley was found incompetent for trial in January after evaluations by two psychologists, and transported to Logansport State Hospital in May after a two-month delay due to COVID-19 restrictions. He was found competent in August to stand trial in September.
Oberhansley was set to stand trial in August 2019 with a jury drawn from central Indiana’s Hamilton County, but a mistrial was declared during the first day of testimony after a state’s witness spoke of things attorneys had agreed would not be mentioned to the jury.
Attorneys tried to select a new jury from Hamilton County, but they found that due to media coverage, many potential jurors already knew details about the case.
More on DuboisCountyHerald.com
-
County sees 5 COVID-19 deaths, 5 new cases
The Indiana State Department of Health reported Tuesday five new COVID-19 deaths in Dubois... -
Man injured in crash with stopped school bus
A Birdseye man was flown to an Evansville hospital with a head injury after his pickup truck... -
County sees 12 more COVID-19 cases
The Indiana State Department of Health has reported since Friday 12 new COVID-19 cases in Dubois... -
Former Herald photographer takes top award
Former Herald photographer Marlena Sloss was named 2020 Indiana Photographer of the Year this... -
Fire destroys several houseboats at Hoosier Hills Marina
A fire at the Hoosier Hills Marina at Patoka Lake engulfed nearly a dozen houseboats Friday... -
County records 11 new COVID-19 cases
The Indiana State Department of Health reported Friday 11 new COVID-19 cases in Dubois County. -
Tenth Street Elementary demolition begins
Despite almost a half-foot of snow and freezing weather, plans to raze the Tenth Street... -
No new COVID-19 cases reported in county
The Indiana State Department of Health didn't report any new COVID-19 cases in Dubois County on...