KOSCIUSKO — The seven-day jury trial of Brandon Thomas Woody, 24, and Kyle David DeHart, 24, is still scheduled to begin Thursday, Sept. 29, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Woody and DeHart were charged in February 2015 with two counts of murder, following the shooting deaths of Tara Thornburg and Josh Knisley, Feb. 19, 2015, in Syracuse. Both men have been held in the Kosciusko County Jail without bond since their arrests shortly after the murders. DeHart was also charged with obstruction of justice.

Attorneys for both men, the prosecutor’s office and the judge will hold a status conference at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21. Any further motions, including final pre-trial motions, proposed instructions are to be filed with the court on or before Sept. 6.

A pre-trial conference was held in late July for both men. It was following that pre-trial a request by Woody’s attorney for release on his own recognizance July 19, was denied by the court. Woody had filed a similar request on his own behalf in May. However, because Woody had legal counsel, the court took no action.

Double Shooting

Syracuse Police responded to a call of a potential shooting at 12:31 a.m. Feb. 19, at 205 E. Main St. Tara Thornburg, 23, was taken to Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital following the shooting. She died Feb. 20, from her injuries. Josh Knisley, 19, Syracuse, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police sought the community’s assistance in locating Woody, who initially was named a person of interest and considered armed and dangerous. Woody was arrested later that day, at a gas station in Mishawaka, shortly after 2 p.m. He was taken into custody at gunpoint.

DeHart was charged with the murders March 6. He was already incarcerated in the county jail on two outstanding misdemeanor warrants when the charges were filed.

The investigation continued with three additional people being charged in connection to the murders.
Joan DeHart, 49, Syracuse, was arrested March 4, 2015, and charged with assisting a criminal. Her case is still pending.

Ashlyn Nicole Shephard, 21, Mishawaka, was arrested on March 12, 2015, and charged with obstruction of justice. Her case is also pending.

Thomas Glen Hursey, 27, Warsaw, was charged with two counts of murder March 12, 2015. He was also charged with aiding, inducing or causing robbery with serious bodily injury and aiding inducing or causing obstruction of justice. He is being held in the county jail without bail. His case was initially scheduled to be held in conjunction with Woody and DeHart’s trials. However a separation of the case was granted.

No trial date has been set. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept. 21.