Hursey Charged As Fifth Subject Involved In Syracuse Murder

Thomas Glen Hursey

Kosciusko County and Syracuse officers have charged a fifth subject in connection to the Feb. 19 murder of two Syracuse residents.

Thomas Glen Hursey, 27, 677 Walter Way Court, Warsaw, has been arrested on two counts of murder, both A felony charges; aiding, inducing or causing robbery with serious bodily injury, a level 2 felony; and aiding, inducing or causing obstruction of justice, a level 6 felony. Kyle David DeHart, 23, 11136 N. CR 450E, Syracuse, has also been charged with two counts of murder and obstruction of justice.

There is no bond for Hursey. He was arrested on March 2, on a parole violation.

Brandon Thomas Woody, 22, 605 North St., Syracuse, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 19, and has officially been charged with two counts of murder. He is also being held without bond.

Additional arrests were made in regards to two women who helped harbor the fugitives. Ashlyn Nicole Shepard, 21, was arrested at approximately 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, and preliminarily charged with obstruction of justice, a level 6 felony, in connection with the murder of Tara Thornburg and Joshua Knisley. Joan DeHart, 49, of Syracuse, was arrested on Wednesday, March 4, for assisting a criminal.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, filed with the courts, Kyle DeHart, Brandon Woody and Thomas Hursey were together the night of the murder. The three went to Thornburg’s home at 305 W. Main St., Syracuse, with the intention of stealing marijuana from her.

The court records state Hursey told police what Woody and DeHart were wearing and how they planned on using tape and utility knife to restrain Thornburg and cut her throat. At the residence, Thornburg gave Woody one ounce of marijuana, who gave the drug to DeHart. Woody then winked at DeHart.

Court records state Woody hit Thornburg in the face and then shot her with a handgun also in the face. The gun jammed with unspent cartridges falling on the floor at the foot of the bed. Kyle DeHart and Hursey then ran downstairs when they heard another shot. The three then left the residence in Kyle DeHart’s vehicle, with Kyle DeHart driving. Woody at that time said he had shot Knisley.

Kyle DeHart drove Woody and Hursey to his residence where items were burned in the backyard of the DeHart property. The three slept at the home of DeHart’s parents, Scott and Joan.

Joan DeHart allegedly drove Woody to Eastgate Apartments, Warsaw, where Kyle DeHart later drove to pick up Woody. DeHart then allegedly drove the two to Mishawaka.

Woody reportedly told police, at the time of his arrest on Feb. 19, that he had been with Kyle DeHart from Feb. 17 until his apprehension the afternoon of Feb. 19. It was a short time after Woody’s arrest they located and arrested Kyle DeHart at a residence in Mishawaka, a short distance from the One Stop Gas Station, Mishawaka.