Indiana State Police and Hamilton County officials announced the arrest of Thomas Anderson in the decades-old grisly killing of Tony Bledsoe, a father of three whose dismembered body was found in a Putnam County ravine in 1992.
Bledsoe, 24, went missing on March 16, 1992. Remains discovered several weeks later—without a head, hands or feet—remained unidentified until a DNA match in 2018 reignited the investigation. Anderson, 53, now faces a murder charge.
Why It Matters
The arrest delivers some closure to a case that haunted Bledsoe’s family and Indiana communities for more than 30 years and illustrates advances in forensic DNA identification. Investigators’ persistence, despite decades without suspects, highlights ongoing commitments by U.S. law enforcement to unresolved violent crimes and signals renewed hope for other cold cases nationwide.
What To Know
On April 3, 1992, the human remains, minus a head, hands and feet, were discovered in the ravine. The body, which had been stabbed multiple times and covered in a black substance, was initially unidentifiable.
A DNA sample provided by Bledsoe’s mother helped officials positively identify the remains as Tony Bledsoe.
Investigators said progress on the case resumed in March 2018 after a witness tipped police that Anderson had claimed knowledge of the killing.
Court documents obtained by WISH indicate Anderson’s nephew told authorities about his uncle’s account. Anderson said the killing followed an argument involving a stolen stereo, culminating at the home of Anderson’s friend, Andy Emmert, where Bledsoe was shot, stabbed and ultimately dismembered, according to the court documents.
Anderson said he witnessed Emmert shoot Bledsoe before stabbing him and striking him with a bat, according to the legal filings. Anderson described dismembering the body, placing parts in a bucket of concrete, and disposing of them in a ravine, authorities said, and he also described spray-painting the body to further impede identification.
Police found a knife matching Anderson’s description during a search of Emmert’s home in October 2024.
Court filings tie Emmert, a local official serving as utility superintendent and building commissioner, to the crime scene, but only Anderson is charged at the moment. Emmert’s municipal offices were also searched, leading to his temporary leave from town duties before later reinstatement. Police said they have insufficient evidence to charge anyone else.
What People Are Saying
Josh Kocher, Hamilton County deputy prosecuting attorney, in comments to WTHR: “The filing of charges in this cold case is a testament to the relentless work of law enforcement and our unwavering commitment to justice.”
John Perrine, Indiana State Police sergeant, at a news conference on Tuesday: “This arrest is not the conclusion of our investigation.”
Justin Robinson, son of Tony Bledsoe, in comments to CBS4Indy: “My dad didn’t leave. My dad didn’t just leave.”
What Happens Next
Anderson’s next court date is set for July 9. Authorities emphasized that the case remains open. Officials continue reviewing evidence and encourage people with relevant information to contact Indiana State Police at 317-899-8508.
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