KAREN BLACKLEDGE | Home Invasion With A Deadly Weapon, Criminal Sexual Assault, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault, And Residential Burglary | Sentenced To 40 Years In Prison | ALS

Karen Blackledge. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Springfield, IL. August 2, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED

In the fall of 2021, a criminal case unfolded involving Karen Blackledge and Bradley Yohn, who were implicated in a series of felonies in Quincy, Illinois. The duo faced serious accusations, including two counts of home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking, residential burglary, and aggravated criminal sexual assault. Initially, Blackledge maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty. However, as the legal proceedings advanced, she altered her plea to guilty for the home invasion and aggravated criminal sexual assault charges, leading to the dismissal of the remaining charges in a plea agreement.

On May 5, 2022, the court handed down a severe sentence to Blackledge, imposing 20 years of imprisonment for each count, to be served consecutively, culminating in a total of 40 years behind bars. The charges originated from a distressing event on November 9, 2021, when law enforcement responded to a burglary at a residence off North Bottom Road in rural Adams County. The incident began with a vehicular hijacking on the same road, where one of the homeowners was abducted and coerced back to their property, which was subsequently burglarized. The vehicle involved in the hijacking had been reported stolen from a local business earlier that day.

The case took a more somber turn with the involvement of Christine F. “Tina” Brown Lohman Schmitt, a 77-year-old great-grandmother, who became a victim of this heinous crime. Blackledge faced additional charges for her role in the invasion of Lohman’s home, which included the use of a deadly weapon, criminal sexual assault, and aggravated kidnapping, among others. Despite her guilty plea and subsequent sentencing, the full extent of the tragedy was underscored by the death of Lohman before the trial’s conclusion.

Bradley Yohn, Blackledge’s co-defendant, was convicted of similar charges following a trial that detailed a brutal attack. Yohn’s assault on Lohman was relentless; he sexually assaulted her in her vehicle, pursued her to her home after a brief escape, forcibly entered the residence, and continued his violent acts. The ordeal ended with Yohn spraying Lohman with carpet cleaner before making his escape.

The apprehension of Blackledge and Yohn occurred on November 10, 2021, in Springfield, Illinois. The arrest was a coordinated effort by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Apprehension Unit, bringing a close to the immediate threat they posed to the community. The case remains a stark reminder of the gravity of such crimes and the enduring impact on the victims and their families.

• VIDEO: Karen Blackledge sentencing | https://youtu.be/nm2TyQz1_20

• VIDEO: Bradley Yohn Trial: Prosecutor Details Gruesome Kidnapping, Sexual Assault of 77-Year-Old Woman | https://youtu.be/RW8RWTmzCZ0

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