By Ken de la Bastide
The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
ANDERSON, Ind. — Madison County correctional officer Uriah Wilson was strangled to death with his own belt by a high school friend who claims it was done in self defense, according to a probable cause affidavit released by Indiana State Police.
Wilson, 29, of Markleville was found dead by Madison County Sheriff’s deputies at 1:18 a.m. last Friday in the 3600 block of Ind. 38 just east of Markleville.
Joseph Hartley, 29, a former Pendleton resident now residing in Germany, was formally charged with murder on Wednesday. If convicted, Hartley would face a possible 45- to 65-year prison sentence.
According to the affidavit filed by ISP investigator Robert May, Wilson went to Hartley’s father’s home at 10 a.m. to hang out. The two men were drinking and cutting wood on the property.
May said Hartley was reluctant to talk with police and had a strong odor of alcohol.
Esther Voss, Hartley’s wife, said Wilson pulled out a black pistol and discharged it near her. She told police that led to an argument between the two men. Voss then went into a trailer on the property. She later heard a gunshot, went outside and saw nothing, but didn’t walk out to an area where there was a campfire.
Voss told May that about 10 minutes later Hartley came running to the trailer and told her to call 911.
Hartley told Madison County Deputy Adam Farley he was attacked by Wilson. Hartley said Wilson pointed a gun at him and he thought he was going to be shot.
May wrote that a web belt was forcibly removed from Wilson’s pants and was found around Wilson’s neck.
May said the broken belt loop could not be made by a right-handed person. Wilson was right handed.
The affidavit indicates both men appeared to have been in a fight based on soiled clothes and injuries to their heads and hands indicating a violent physical altercation.
Hartley said during the day the two men fired shot guns, a Mauser rifle, AR 15 and Ruger hangun, both of which were believed to be Wilson’s.
May said a knife, gun and several shell casings from different weapons were found in the area.
Farley said when he arrived at the scene Hartley was performing CPR on Wilson.
©2017 The Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Ind.)