LANCASTER, Pa. — The homicide trial of a Lancaster man charged with killing his roommate inside a city apartment kicked off Monday in County Court.
Vandy Blankenship is charged with killing 60-year-old Donald Reinmiller inside 814 N. Lime St. on Sept. 3, 2014.
In an opening statement Monday morning, a prosecutor said Blankenship lied to police about many things after Reinmiller was found dead, including:
- His relationship with Reinmiller.
- His whereabouts when Reinmiller was fatally stabbed and strangled.
Blankenship has denied killing Reinmiller, saying the two were casual friends and he dropped by the apartment on chance that day and found Reinmiller unconscious in the kitchen.
Phone records show that Blankenship called a friend, then waited 20 minutes before calling 911 to report Reinmiller’s injuries.
Blankenship told police he was walking around Lancaster city most of the night and wasn’t at Reinmiller’s apartment. Surveillance video evidence shows that wasn’t the case, Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman told jurors.
Also, Fetterman said in opening statements, Blankenship lied about his relationship with Reinmiller. Police determined the two were intimately involved; Blankenship claimed they were casual friends.
Blankenship’s defense team pointed to another person as the killer, claiming police didn’t properly investigated the death.
Police officers testified after opening statements from both sides.
Testimony before County Judge Jeffery Wright is expected to last through the week.
