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By AMY HILVERS nail: ahilvers@bakersfield.com A prosecutor argued Thursday that an accused killer's statements that he saw a woman killed prove his guilt. A defense attorney countered that the lack of physical evidence linking his client to the crime proves his inno cence. The case charging Jeremy Fender in the murder of airline ticket clerk Tina Blunt was sent to the jury after closing arguments finished Thursday. Fender is charged with kidnapping, robbing and killing Blunt four years ago. She was last seen leaving her Bak ersfield home to go to work at Skywest Airlines at Meadow’s Field March 31, 1999. Her body was found April 14, 1999. The prosecutor argued Fender knew where Tina Blunt’s body was left and told detectives information about her death that only someone who was at the scene would know. Deputy District Attorney John Somers argued that Fender's inconsis tent statements to police show that he was involved in the killing and was try ing to cover it up. “The most damning or incriminat ing evidence is what he knew early on,” Somers said. Fender told his aunt that Blunt's body could be found near water near a truck stop toward the Grapevine, two days after she went missing, Somers said. Fender also gave a vivid descrip tion of her death, and Blunt had injuries consistent with his descrip tion, Somers said. Other statements Fender made, like overhearing a conversation in a bar that someone wanted Blunt dead over child support, was information Fender made up to cover up his own guilt, Somers said. “He has ensnared himself in a web of his own lies and deceit,” Somers said. In the defense’s closing arguments, Deputy Public Defender Arthur Titus asked jurors to consider some basic logic. If Fender knew where Blunt’s body was, why did he give a vague description that led police miles away from where her body was found? The prosecution's contention that Fender knew facts about the killing only a participant could know is not supported by the evidence, ‘Titus said. Plenty of other —_ people knew what Fender told police, including Blunt’s co-work ers, he said. And other than his state ments to police, there is no evi dence linking him to the crime, Titus told the jury. Fingerprints gathered by crime lab technicians don’t match Fender's prints; DNA found on Blunt’s car and body didn’t match the accused; and hairs found in Blunt’s car do not match Fender's hair, Titus said. The statements the prosecution relied on to show Fender's guilt were lies he told to get detectives off his back, Titus said. Fender wasn’t worried about mur der charges, Titus said, but only told police what they wanted to hear so he could go home to his pregnant girl friend. The stories he did tell police were inconsistent and unbelievable, Titus argued. What he actually told detec tives showed a lack of real knowledge of the crime. Details Fender did describe were common knowledge in the community or came from information provided by police, Titus said. Fender's statements lacked addi tional details about the crime that would confirm what he said was true. Titus said. “There's no evidence that any of this is true,” Titus said. “There's no evi dence he knew anything.” The jury went back to the delibera tion room for about 10 minutes before sending a note requesting that they leave for the day and start again Friday. That request was granted. One juror was excused Thursday morning before closing arguments started. An alternate took his place leaving no alternates left on the jury
Newspaper Details
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield, California, US
Fri, Jun 13, 2003
Page 20
Full Page
Clipped by
Ryan B.
USA 04 May 2026
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