Family gets answers over 30 years after dad disappeared, Indiana officials say
A father of three vanished on March 16, 1992, leaving his family questioning what had happened to him, Indiana prosecutors said.
Now, the arrest of Thomas Anderson on May 20 has given the family answers about what happened to Tony Bledsoe of Arcadia, Indiana State Police and Hamilton County prosecutors said in a news conference posted by WTHR.
Anderson is charged with murder and accused of killing the father on the day he disappeared in 1992, Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine said.
Hamilton County chief deputy prosecutor Joshua Kocher said learning the news has been an “emotional experience” for Bledsoe’s family.
“I think that they are relieved to be taking a step forward towards justice,” he said.
A body missing its head, hands and feet was found on April 3, 1992, 18 days after Bledsoe went missing, according to Kocher and court documents obtained by WXIN.
The remains went unidentified for decades.
A tip in 2018 led investigators to be able to link the remains found in rural Putnam County to Bledsoe’s cold case, Perrine said.
A DNA profile was created through family members, and Bledsoe’s remains were officially identified through DNA testing, investigators said.
Though the father’s remains were identified, it took a years-long investigation to link Anderson to the case.
During the investigation, Anderson’s nephew told police that his uncle had told him he witnessed another person kill Bledsoe, according to court documents obtained by WTHR. When Anderson was questioned, he told police it was over a stolen stereo sold to Bledsoe, the affidavit said, according to the outlet.
Investigators spoke with Anderson, and he admitted to hitting Bledsoe with a baseball bat and told them the other person shot and stabbed Bledsoe, WXIN reported, citing court documents.
Court records said Anderson told authorities the pair then put Bledsoe’s dismembered remains in a bucket of concrete, WTHR reported.
The affidavit said some of Bledsoe’s remains were tied with nylon rope and spray painted black in an attempt to conceal it as they dumped the body, WXIN reported.
Authorities said the investigation into the death of Bledsoe is ongoing.
Arcadia is about a 35-mile drive northeast from Indianapolis.
This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 5:10 PM with the headline "Family gets answers over 30 years after dad disappeared, Indiana officials say."
