JASPER — A Cannelburg woman charged in the death of her toddler son had her first court appearance in Dubois County on Friday morning.
At her initial hearing here it was decided that Vadney M. Blake will be kept in the Dubois County Security Center for at least a short while so that she could meet with her attorney, Nathan Verkamp, from Jasper, in anticipation of additional court appearances there.
Verkamp met briefly with Blake prior to and again after her hearing on Friday morning.
Blake, 22, was charged by Dubois County Prosecutor Michael Fritch with battery resulting in death and neglect of a dependent resulting in death, both Class A felonies, after a lengthy investigation into the circumstances around her son Jalen Blake’s death.
Dubois Circuit Court Judge William Weikert told Blake she could face a maximum sentence of 50 years and minimum of 20 years on each Class A felony count, as well as up to a $10,000 fine.
Jalen Blake, 2 1/2, died on June 28, 2008, at Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, from damages of a blunt impact to the head, according to the Marion County Coroner’s Office.
Vadney Blake, before Friday, had been in jail in Daviess County on charges of neglect, a Class C felony, and dealing in a narcotic drug, a Class A felony. Blake’s trial in Daviess County has been set to start March 25 and Anthony Quinn, another Jasper attorney, is her counsel on the Daviess County charges.
Verkamp and the judge discussed how it would be more convenient for Blake to be incarcerated in Dubois County since both attorneys in her cases are from Jasper, although the deputy who transported her to Jasper indicated to the judge that he had been told by Daviess County officials to “take her back there.” The deputy agreed, however, that apparently no agreement between the counties had been agreed upon as to where she would be imprisoned.
Bond in both counties had been previously set at $500,000.
According to the probable cause affidavit from the Dubois Circuit Court, Vadney Blake admitted, after telling several different versions of a story, to hitting Jalen twice with a Home Interiors candle on June 27 after “(Vadney) snapped because her ‘old man’ had been hounding her that day and that she ‘took it all out on *** (Jalen).’”
The alleged incident occurred in Haysville, at a home she and boyfriend Jeff Truelove, 40, Jasper, were staying in with Jalen and alcohol was involved.
Daviess County Sheriff’s Detective Gary Allison and State Police Detective Dana Miller searched the home and matched the candle with autopsy photos.
Fritch, the prosecutor in the Dubois County case, has praised investigators for their work on the case. He said their police work was outstanding in getting Blake to confess to her involvement in the child’s death.
Local News
Blake faces charges in son’s death
- Local News
-
-
Pierce named B-R Homecoming Queen
Rebekah Pierce, daughter of Russell and Beth Pierce of Washington, was crowned 2012 Homecoming Queen at Barr-Reeve High School on Friday.
-
ND crowns Steffey, McAtee
Anthony Steffey, son of Jim and Bridgette Steffey, and Shelby McAtee, daughter of Ron and Lynn Cox, were crowned Homecoming King and Queen at North Daviess High School on Friday.
-
Car causes garage fire on Edwardsport Road
A car caught fire at the home belonging to Robert Wichman at 5295N 100W.
-
Washington native on short list for Indiana Supreme Court
Washington native the Honorable Maria D. Granger is one of 15 under consideration to fill a vacancy on the Indiana Supreme Court.
-
Several arrested after search warrant was issued
A search warrant was executed by city police Wednesday morning at 506 S.W. Sixth St., and several people were arrested.
-
Washington man part of Super Bowl commercial
While some see the Super Bowl as just a football game, Washington resident Gene Wood sees it as a source of revenue. That’s because the 87-year-old is currently being featured in a national commercial for Visa centered around the Super Bowl.
-
Woman rescued from high water on Old Vincennes Road
Daviess County Sheriff’s deputies rescued a Vincennes woman from flood waters early Tuesday on Old Vincennes Road.
-
Mayor and city council get to work
Washington Mayor Joe Wellman gave a brief report at Monday’s city council meeting.
-
2 Winslow residents arrested after home was burglarized
Indiana State Police launched a criminal investigation after receiving information earlier this month that a Winslow couple had their home burglarized and several pieces of property stolen while they were sleeping.
-
Crane braces from fallout from military cuts
The 5,000 people who work at southwestern Indiana’s Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center are bracing for possible fallout from a nearly $500 billion reduction in military spending spread over the next decade.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
