JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — A southern Indiana man has been charged with murder in the Sept. 11th stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend, Tammy Jo Blanton, 46. Prosecutors said after killing Blanton, Joseph Oberhansley, 33, ate parts of her body.
During an arraignment on Monday, FOX 59 reports Oberhansley told police they had the wrong man and that his real name was Zeus Brown. Maintaining the pseudo identity, Oberhansley pleaded not guilty to murder and to mutilating a corpse.
Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said Oberhansley has a violent criminal past, including a previous murder conviction.
In 1998, as a teenager, Oberhansley killed his girlfriend in Utah, days after she gave birth.
Mull said he was aware of the man’s violent past and asked for a high bond when Oberhansley was charged with fleeing Jeffersonville police in July.
“I would say I am devastated. I went to court to get a high bond on this case because I felt he was dangerous. I was right. He was,” Mull said.
Mull convinced a judge to set a $25,000 bond after Oberhansley was arrested on charges of fleeing police this summer.
Another prosecutor agreed to lower it, allowing Tammy Jo Blanton to post only $500.
Blanton was found dead inside a home on Locust Street in Jeffersonville on Thursday.
The Clark County coroner said Blanton died of multiple sharp-force injuries to the head, neck and torso.
In 1998, Oberhansley was living with his grandparents near Salt Lake City when he got into an argument with his teenaged girlfriend around Christmas. Oberhansley killed the 17-year-old and shot his mother before turning the gun on himself.
Both were airlifted to a Salt Lake City hospital. Oberhansley spent 13 years in prison for that killing.
CNN contributed to this report.
