Make wishtv.com your home page

Muncie man in prison for woman’s 2011 death wants new trial

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 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.