MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                May 30, 2015

Update on Murder in Mentone

Sheriff Jimmy Harris states as follows:

                Sheriff Jimmy Harris reports the update on the murder of Sherry Ann Blansit, 45 of Mentone. After an extensive investigation from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Mentone Police Department, DA Office, and the Department of Forensics Science from Jacksonville State University, Tyler Ryan Blansit 22 of Mentone confessed to the murder of his mother Sherry Ann Blansit. Tyler told investigators that they had been in an argument over grades. Tyler says that he struck Sherry in the head and it appears that her death was caused from blunt force trauma to the head area. She was transported to Department of Forensics Science in Huntsville for an autopsy. The District Attorney was contacted after the confession from Tyler. The District Attorney ordered us to arrest Tyler on murder. Tyler remains in the DeKalb County Detention Center awaiting bond.

                Sheriff Harris states “I especially want to thank the Mentone Police Department for their assistants on this case though out the night. I also want to thank the DA Office and the investigators from the Department of Forensic Science for coming to the scene and remaining with us until early this morning. Our thoughts and prayer go out to the family and friends during this tragic time.”