Murder trial of former HC student set to start today
May 5, 2008
The trial of a former Hocking College student accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death is scheduled to start today.
Ronald N. Hendrickson II of Dayton is charged with aggravated murder in connection with the April 12, 2007 death of Jodi Blankenship of Burton, Ohio.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin this morning in Athens County Common Pleas Court and last until Tuesday or Wednesday. Opening arguments probably will begin Wednesday, and the trial may last until Wednesday of next week, according to Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren.
Hendrickson, 22, is accused of stabbing Blankenship 14 times at a Nelsonville rental home they shared with other Hocking College students. The two had been romantically involved, but reportedly broke up six weeks before Blankenship’s death.
Hendrickson has not been incarcerated while awaiting his trial, and will not be in jail this week while the trial is occurring.
Warren explained that a bonding company posted the $800,000 bond that was required to release Hendrickson from jail while he was awaiting trial. The prosecutor’s office was not instructed to keep tabs on him over the last year, he added.
Hendrickson has appeared in court several times over the last year for motion hearings in the case.
If found guilty, Hendrickson could face a minimum sentence of 20 years to life in prison and could be sentenced up to the maximum of life in prison with no chance for parole, Warren said. His alleged crime is not a death-penalty offense because he did not allegedly commit it in the course of committing another felony, such as a robbery or another killing, Warren explained.
The prosecutor said he plans to call a large number of witnesses during the trial, but declined to discuss an alleged motive or any of the evidence.
“We will present the evidence we have at trial,” Warren said.
This will be first murder trial that Warren’s office has handled during his nearly eight years as county prosecutor, but a second murder trial may soon be held.
Jonathan Bebb, 32 of Athens, is charged with aggravated murder in connection with the stabbing death of his father, semi-retired Ohio University history professor Phillip Bebb, Sept. 24 at the older man’s home on Mulligan Road in Athens.
Bebb is being held in the regional jail in Nelsonville in lieu of bond. A motion hearing on his case is set for May 22, but no trial date has been scheduled, Warren said. Bebb’s attorneys have filed several motions that have to be settled before a trial can be held, including asking the judge to move the trial to another county and to allow Bebb to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
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mimistaff commented, on May 5, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.:
They need to put this kid under the Jail. No one noticed that he might be a little unstable!? it makes me crazy that parents, friends, relatives. no one saw this coming? unbelievable!! Our hearts break for the Blankenship family. Such a beauty with a wonderful future ahead of her. let there be Justice!
