1992 Murder Mystery Solved: Suspect Arrested

A 53-year-old suspect has been charged with the murder of a Hamilton County man whose body, with its head, hands and feet removed, was found in a Putnam County ravine in 1992. Tony J. Bledsoe, of Arcadia, was 24 years old when he was reported missing by his wife on March 16, 1992. His remains were found April 3, 1992, at a dump, a ravine on Putnam County Road 900 West just south of U.S. 40.

After a grand jury was convened, Thomas L. Anderson Jr., of Arcadia, was arrested Tuesday, and a murder charge was filed against him in Hamilton Circuit Court. An autopsy determined the body may have been at the dump up to 18 days before it was found. Police before Tuesday had not shared that the body was missing its head, hands and feet.

Indiana State Police say the investigation is not concluded. DNA secured in September 2019 from Bledsoe’s mother helped investigators to identify the body. The case received renewed scrutiny in October when the Atlanta Town Hall was targeted in a state police investigation.

Court documents in Anderson's case say state police reopened the case in 2018 and 2019. Anderson told investigators he and Emmert had witnessed "the entire thing." Indiana State Police Lt. Terry Joshua Watson wrote in Anderson's probable cause document about a Sept. 4, 2019, interview: "Scottie told us the entire thing was over Tony hassling Andy about a stolen car. Scottie told us Tommy brought Tony over to Andy’s house and Andy shot Tony in the head with a shotgun."

Anderson has spoken with investigators three times since September 2019. He told investigators that he and Emmert had been friends since elementary school, and they'd lived in the same duplex along State Road 19 in Noblesville in the early 1990s.

Court documents say Anderson told investigators he and Emmert stole a Pontiac Firebird together in Racine, Wisconsin, and brought it to Atlanta. They stripped the aftermarket stereo from the Firebird, burned the rest of the car, and buried it somewhere in Boone County.

Emmert traded the stereo to Bledsoe in exchange for auto parts. Bledsoe later felt "he got ripped off in the deal because the stereo was stolen," and a grudge ensued between the two men.

Anderson moved out from living with Emmert, and they went their separate ways. Anderson said he and Bledsoe entered Emmert's home through the back door. Anderson walked in first with Bledsoe following him. Anderson stated he heard a loud bang and looked over his shoulder to see Bledsoe shot in the head.

Anderson elaborated on the knife describing it as a 'Boy Scout knife' with a shiny, fixed blade that now had rust on it, a leather handle, and a metal pommel. A knife matching that description was located at Emmert's residence when a search warrant was done on October 2, 2024.

Anderson stated he and Emmert burned the bat that he had hit Bledsoe with. They then wrapped Bledsoe’s body in cord and spray painted the body black to make it more concealable. They placed the head, hands, and feet in a 'pickle bucket' full of concrete.

The investigator learned from Anderson that he and Emmert then wrapped Bledsoe's body and put it in the truck of the car of Anderson's girlfriend and drove west "to a place with ‘Green’ in the name or near it." They dumped the body in a large ravine and covered it with a piece of wood.

Authorities announced the arrest and shared court documents during a news conference at the Hamilton County Government & Judicial Center in downtown Noblesville.