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Last updated on Wednesday, December 17, 2014
(CLARK CO.) - An Indiana man accused of murdering his ex girlfriend and consuming her body parts made outbursts in court Tuesday.
WDRB reports that Joseph Oberhansley had a hearing in Clark County Tuesday afternoon as prosecutors seek the death penalty against him.
"I would like to say that all these charges and allegations against me are false," Oberhansley told reporters as guards brought him into the courtroom.
Prosecutors say Oberhansley killed his ex girlfriend, Tammy Jo Blanton in September after breaking into her house.
In court Tuesday, the judge read his amended charges of murder, burglary and a request for the death sentence.
Prosecutors say the request for the death sentence is based on two aggravating factors, that he committed intentional murder during the burglary and that he dismembered the victim.
"I might add that the aggravating factor of dismemberment is a very unusual aggravating factor, Clark County prosecutor Steven Stewart said. "The best I can tell, nobody's been on death row in Indiana, nobody who has been executed has ever been convicted of the aggravating circumstance of dismemberment."
When he walked in, Oberhansley told the judge he didn't do it.
He talked about how he was robbed and how prosecutors are trying to hang this on his head.
Since this is now a capital case, Oberhansley is being represented by a different attorney.
WDRB asked Mike McDaniel about why Oberhansley was saying he was robbed.
"He was robbed and had the living hell beat out of him," defense attorney Mike McDaniel said. "The cops came along and arrested him and threw him in jail. That was three or four years ago and he ain't over that yet."
Prosecutors say this case will likely come down to evaluations of Oberhansley's mental state.
Oberhansley's mother and the victim's family members were in court today.
Tammy Jo Blanton's mother said she believe Oberhansley's behavior is an act.
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