A Lancaster County jury is deliberating the fate of a city man charged with killing his roommate in 2014.
Vandy Blankenship is charged with killing 60-year-old Donald Reinmiller inside 814 N. Lime St. on Sept. 3, 2014.
Following more than 5 days of testimony and closing arguments from both attorneys, the jury began deliberations Tuesday just after noon.
County Judge Jeffery Wright, presiding over the trial, gave the jury instructions on the law before the panel went into deliberations.
The jury was selected over two days, before opening statements were heard Jan. 11.
In an opening statement, Assistant District Attorney Mark Fetterman 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.
Assistant District Attorney Trista Boyd is assisting Fetterman in the prosecution. Lancaster city police Detective Aaron Harnish filed charges.
(See CrimeWatch/Twitter for Blankenship's photo.)
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright