MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) _ A 27-year-old Muncie man is seeking a new trial after being sentenced in 2012 to 65 years in prison for killing a woman and setting her body on fire.
Terry Rutledge was found guilty of murder and obstruction of justice in connection to the 2011 death of 40-year-old Tonia Ingram. The Star Press (http://tspne.ws/1O3gzlO ) reports Rutledge's petition was filed last week in Delaware County, and he says his trial and appeal attorneys were “ineffective.''
Rutledge claims his attorneys didn't bring out that a co-defendant accused of helping move the victim's remains “made a deal'' with prosecutors before testifying. Rutledge's attorneys argued at trial that the co-defendant killed Ingram.
A judge said Monday that prosecutors have 30 days to respond to Rutledge's petition.
Rutledge is at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.