HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. (TCN) — Investigators arrested a 53-year-old man on suspicion of killing and dismembering a young father over 30 years ago.
Indiana State Police announced in a press conference May 20 that Thomas Anderson Jr. was located and taken into custody in connection with the death of 24-year-old Tony Bledsoe.
Bledsoe’s family reported him missing out of Arcadia, Indiana, on March 16, 1992. Sgt. John Perrine said investigators believe Bledsoe was likely killed that same day. Several weeks later, on April 3, 1992, officials found human remains in Putnam County, about two hours from Arcadia. Those remains went unidentified until 2018, when investigators received a tip connecting Bledsoe’s disappearance and the body parts.
According to court records shared by WTHR-TV, Anderson’s nephew reached out to investigators and allegedly said Anderson told him his friend Andy Emmert killed Bledsoe and he saw the whole thing. WTHR reports Anderson and Emmert allegedly stole a vehicle from Wisconsin and gave Bledsoe the stereo in exchange for car parts.
Bledsoe reportedly learned the car had been stolen, so he told Emmert he wanted his car parts back. Investigators allege Emmert and Anderson went to Bledsoe’s house, where Emmert stabbed and shot him, and Anderson hit him with a bat.
WTHR-TV, which also cites court records, reports the two men allegedly dismembered Bledsoe and put his hands, head, and feet in a bucket of concrete. They also allegedly spray-painted Bledsoe’s body black in an attempt to conceal the remains. Bledsoe’s torso was discovered at a dump site.
Investigators interviewed Anderson three times, and he reportedly admitted to witnessing the killing. He reportedly described the knife Emmert allegedly used, and detectives found an identical one while searching Emmert’s house in October. Emmert has not been charged with any crimes, but Perrine repeated throughout the press conference, “This arrest is not the conclusion of our investigation.”
Emmert works for the city of Atlanta, Indiana, as the utility superintendent and building commissioner and was placed on administrative leave in October, but he was reinstated to his job a month later.
Hamilton County Jail records show Anderson was booked on a charge of murder and is being held without bond.