Former Hocking College student Ronald Hendrickson II talked for nearly three hours Friday about the night his ex-girlfriend died.
When Jodi Blankenship exited the bathroom where she had locked herself, she stabbed him in the left side, said Hendrickson, who is accused of stabbing Blankenship to death in April 2007. The initial stab wound left him disoriented
and scared, he added.
I thought I was going to die
he said.
Hendrickson, trying to push her away, grasped her arms and could have grabbed the knife, he said. But he doesn't remember actually stabbing Blankenship, calling the ensuing events a blur.
That statement drew skepticism from Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren.
You don't remember any of the 14 stab wounds you put on her is that what you're telling me? he said.- he said.-
according to the writings.
But Hendrickson's lawyer, Victor Hodge, made it clear the writings contained no threats toward Blankenship and that he never showed any intent to hurt her.
Earlier on Friday, Maneesha Pandey, M.D., of the Montgomery County coroner's office, showed photographs of Blankenship's autopsy. Blankenship sustained 14 wounds that cut major arteries, pierced her heart, punctured both lungs and caused substantial blood loss.
Other wounds on her hands and arms indicate she was trying to defend herself, Pandey said.
While Pandey showed pictures of the autopsy, Hendrickson clutched his stomach and began breathing heavily, forcing Hendrickson to temporarily leave the courtroom. The trial resumed about 20 minutes later.
Testimony continues today in Athens County Court of Common Pleas.
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Ronald Hendrickson II responds to a question from County Prosecutor C. David Warren during the state's cross-examination Friday. Hendrickson was on the stand for nearly three hours testifying about what occurred the night his ex-girlfriend died in Apr
