By Scott Slade and Judi Turpen
[email protected]

MARKLEVILLE — Indiana State Police are investigating the death of a Markleville man who died of strangulation on Thursday, Dec. 7, east of town.
Madison County Jail supervisor Uriah Wilson, 29, was found dead at a home at 3637 E. State Road 38, about a half mile east of Markleville. Detectives from the Madison County Sheriff’s Department began investigating the case as a homicide.
Police were originally called to the property to investigate a shooting; but officers found Wilson dead with a belt wrapped around his neck, officials said. The man had not been shot, officials said.

 

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

Early Friday, Dec. 8, a suspect in the killing, Joseph M. Hartley, 29, of Germany, formerly of Pendleton, was booked into the Hamilton County Detention Center without bond.
Madison County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Steve Koester said Hartley was being held on a preliminary count of murder. He said the prosecutor’s office expects the charge to be formally filed Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Madison County Sheriff Scott Mellinger said deputies were dispatched to the home just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, initially to investigate a shooting.
Mellinger said he called in the Indiana State Police about two hours later after officers found Wilson’s body.
Because of Wilson’s connection the sheriff’s department, the case was handed over to the Indiana State Police for further investigation.
“I will not comment on other details due to the fact that ISP will be conducting the investigation to avoid any perception of conflict of interest,” Mellinger wrote in an email sent in the morning Friday, Dec. 8. “The suspect in the apparent homicide is in custody being held in an adjoining county.”
Later that day, Indiana State Police public information officer Sgt. John Bowling, of the Pendleton Post, released more information: “Our investigation indicates that two men were sitting outside with a bonfire at 3637 State Road 38 when some sort of altercation occurred between the two that resulted in gunfire. When deputies arrived, they found Uriah T. Wilson, 29, of Markleville, outside the home, deceased.”
Madison County Coroner Marian Dunnichay said the cause of death was asphyxiation due to ligature strangulation.
“He had a belt around his neck,” she said, noting that there was bruising and other injuries “consistent with strangulation.”
She said the man had not been shot.
According to an ISP update released Saturday, “Further investigation has revealed that shots had been fired before the two men got involved in a physical altercation that ultimately led to Uriah Wilson’s death.”
It is believed Hartley was visiting the home of relatives when the incident occurred, according to state police, and that Wilson, too, was visiting the home and bonfire.
Wilson had worked at the jail for five years and was not married, Mellinger said. Wilson’s father lives in Madison County, and his mother lives in New York state, Mellinger said.
Dunnichay said it appeared more than two hours passed from the time it was clear a man was dead before the coroner was requested. That was unusual, she added.
Mellinger said he now believes he should have called Dunnichay immediately.
“I probably should have called the coroner sooner because it was a death no matter what,” Mellinger said. Mellinger said Wilson was off duty at the time.
Mellinger said he called state police to take over the investigation about 1:30 a.m.
Dunnichay said her office was notified at 1:44 a.m.