Defendant to get psych tests in cannibal case
A Southern Indiana man accused of killing and eating part of his estranged girlfriend will undergo psychiatric evaluations, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Joseph Oberhansley could face the death penalty in the September 2014 slaying of Tammy Jo Blanton. Prosecutors allege Oberhansley broke into Blanton's Jeffersonville home, struck her with a knife and mutilated her body before he ate parts of her brain, heart and a lung.
Defense attorneys Brent Westerfeld and Bart Betteau filed a motion late last month arguing their client is not able to participate in his own defense and not able to fully understand the court proceedings.
Clark County Circuit Court Judge Vicki Carmichael granted the request and ordered that Oberhansley undergo three separate evaluations by medical professionals selected by the court, not the parties in the case.
Oberhansley is charged with murder, burglary and rape.
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Oberhansley, who was taken in and out of court in handcuffs and a wheelchair, was quiet throughout most of Wednesday's proceedings but did tell the judge that he was "completely innocent of all of these false charges."
"I'm telling you I'm completely competent," he said to Carmichael.
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Jeremy Mull said he hopes the evaluations will be completed within 30 days, after which the medical professionals will offer testimony at a hearing to help Carmichael decide if Oberhansley is competent for trial.
A status hearing is scheduled for April 10.
The motion comes less than four months before a scheduled June 12 trial date.
"In many cases, defense attorneys have incentive to delay a resolution of cases," Mull said. "This is a case where I feel this motion could have been made earlier."
The prosecutor said he plans to object to any trial date delays.
"I'm going to strenuously try to have this matter tried in June," he said.
Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at 502-582-4989 or mglowicki@courier-journal.com.
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