Four Shots in Oskie: Murder and Innocence in Middle America

by Justin Wingerter

Four Shots in Oskie tells the story of a gross miscarriage of justice with sharp precision and compelling insight. Wingerter captures the psyche of a small Kansas town and illustrates the way the criminal justice system can veer terribly off course. Deeply reported, this is an important story about a decades-long struggle to right an appalling wrong. —Katie Moore, The Kansas City Star Four Shots in Oskie is the unbelievable true story of Floyd Bledsoe, who was wrongfully convicted of kidnap and murder, crimes his brother committed and framed him for. On November 5, 1999, 14-year-old Camille Arfmann stepped off a school bus in the small Kansas town of Oskaloosa and was never again seen alive. A few days later, Tom Bledsoe led the police to her body, handed over his murder weapon, and confessed to killing Camille, a quiet high school freshman. The case that outraged Oskaloosa was seemingly solved. Yet the prosecutor and police soon released Bledsoe and pinned the murder on his brother, Floyd, an innocent farmhand who was Camille’s brother-in-law. Reporter Justin Wingerter followed the case for the Topeka Capital-Journal and continued to investigate for years afterward. He now brings you the full story of how Floyd Bledsoe was unjustly convicted. How and why this injustice — perpetrated by a powerful few in a small town — occurred continues to confound Oskaloosa’s detectives and attorneys decades later. Told through dozens of interviews with those closest to the crime, extensive court documents, and confidential police reports, this strange story is sure to engage and enrage. Everyone who is concerned about criminal justice should know the story of Floyd Bledsoe. It illustrates how fragile our system is; how the failings of a few powerful people can result in an innocent man going to prison for years—even if that man has an alibi and someone else has confessed to the crime. If it could happen to Floyd Bledsoe, despite all of the evidence of his innocence, it could happen to any of us. —Andy Marso, author of The Klinefelter Legacy and Worth The Pain Justin Wingerter is a reporter for The Denver Post. He was born in Granite City, Ill., graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in journalism, and went to work writing about government and politics. He lives in Denver with his wife, Megan, who is also a writer.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Book Club

232 pages, Paperback

Published March 10, 2021

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s always strange to read a book and know most everyone mentioned in it. I was practicing law in Jefferson County when parts of this story were taking place. I know the attorneys, Judges and detectives involved. It was difficult to read this book and see the complete injustice and incompetence that occurred during the investigation, but I have to say I wasn’t surprised. While practicing there, I had seen more than a few instances where a narrative was created to get a desired end result instead of letting the truth lead to that result. No one will ever know the full truth of what happened that day, but I do believe that justice ultimately prevailed.

[Angie Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew them all.

I went to church at Countryside Baptist Church. I can attest to the beliefs held by the church. I knew all of these people. Camille was a wonderful person. My son and Floyd's son played together. We lived in sunset trailer park when they did and at the time this all happened.

[Margo Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Floyd Bledsoe entered the Jefferson County courthouse in late 2015 handcuffed and wearing prison garb. Later that day he walked out wearing civilian clothing, set free by the same judge who had sent him to prison in 1999. Jason Wingerter's book, Four Shots in Oskie, is the result of lengthy research, well-written, an absorbing journey through a search for justice.

[Nyree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I live in this general area, and I can say I was appalled by how this investigation and trial was conducted. When the law school at KU uses this as a case study to show how not to conduct an investigation and prosecution, you know you messed up. I literally read it with my mouth open in horror, because this kind of injustice could happen to anyone and that is very frightening.

[Janey Glidden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrongful prosecution on a high extent

A man is accused of raping and killing his 16 y/o sister in law. Evidence proves he was at work and had no period of undocumented time to kill the girl. Meanwhile his brother confesses to committing the crime, not once but three times! But law enforcement decide to prosecute the brother in law of the girl. Trial was a farce but ended up with the msn in jail for 16 years while the Innocence Project investigates and take this to trial two more times. I know this is a true story but was flabbergasted that the police and lawyers would prosecute this obvious innocent man when they have someone that has confessed other times !
!

[Gr8serenity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing 1st hand as a community member of Winchester and knowing two of her sibling, I initially held back and was unsure if I wanted to read this book. Curiosity finally got to me and I'm so glad I read it. From my personal recollection back then, this book is very accurate and is very easy to read. It's very surreal to see so many names of people I know or know of. Camille and her family are forever in my heart. She was so beyond just any ordinary teenage girl, she was truly an angel on earth.

[Wendopolis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well-written account of a man wrongly incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit and the blunders of law enforcement. The crime happened in 1999 in NE Kansas where I grew up and still lived at that time but I don’t recall any of it, although I’m sure I read about this crime in the local newspaper.

It’s a shame this book is self-published because true crime is a hot topic and it is free of the usual errors in spelling and formatting that plague 90% of self-published books. The authors skill as a reporter is obvious.

[Chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kansas book. 3.5 stars. Wow. Holy crap. 🗑️🔥🗑️🔥🗑️🔥. The whole case was literally dumpster fire after dumpster fire after dumpster fire. Glad I read this. I remember hearing about this case when I was in college when I heard Floyd was released. Crazy to think that this didn’t happen too far away from where I grew up.

The whole book is like “tell me you work in law enforcement in a small, less-populated county that doesn’t see a lot of BAD crime without telling me”. Again, 🗑️🔥.

[SB · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Account of Wrongful Prosecution

An intriguing account of the sixteen year battle to clear the name and life sentence of a wrongfully convicted man of rape and murder of his young sister in law. Extremely well written with excellent research and recounting of the blindness of judges who rarely, if ever, overturn lower case convictions. An intriguing read.

[LaVanda Bergeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough book

It was deeply disturbing how an innocent man was convicted of a crime that had substantial evidence against another person. It should be a fear of anyone who reads this that it’s possible for anyone, especially when living in a small town.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about a miscarriage of justice in a small town and the tireless work that went into exonerating an innocent man. A valuable read for anyone who wants to learn more about wrongful convictions and the effort that goes into overturning them.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really intriguing read for me because I heard Floyd Bledsoe speak in person, not long after his release. My journalism students were even able to interview him. Fascinating and scary details.

[Krista Smith]

I’m not done with this book lord help me. The most disrespectful 53 pages so far! I hope her mom who didn’t even know the book was being written don’t read half the bs you have said! Knowing her family as close as I do I hope she does not read this book I really do

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable Story of Family dysfunction lies and murder!


The bonds of brotherhood are supposed to be tight. This true story proves otherwise!! The corruption or ineptitude of law enforcement also played a part !!

[Sonya Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very hard to read, I live in this town and attended the same church at the time this happened. I am so glad that Floyd was released but he lost 16 years, I have no words for the injustice of the case.

[Machell Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read book

Shakes your faith in law enforcement. I am from the area, so it was a little disturbing. Was a good read.

[Kalyn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't remember this murder. It breaks my heart and to try an innocent man was unreal! So many mistakes were made in this investigation. Good read in my opinion!

[Melanie]

I was interested in reading about this story but found the writing style hard to follow.

[Kimberly Erickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As intriguing as this case was, there was wrong information regarding directions including where towns are positioned to one another within the county.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was crazy reading a book about people I knew/know.

[Jessica Chapman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Appreciated learning about this gross miscarriage of justice but felt the book read more or less like a court transcript. Lacked analysis.

[Rhi Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really bananas story, and a well written account of it. Highly reccomend.

[Amador Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book about a failed justice system in a rural ks town