MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Ten years ago, Floyd Bledsoe walked free after spending more than 16 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. Today, he’s a father of three, an entrepreneur, and the owner of a small farm just outside Hutchinson.
Looking back
On a chilly November afternoon in 1999, 14-year-old Zetta Camille Arfmann stepped off a school bus in the small town of Oskaloosa and walked into the trailer home she shared with her older sister, brother-in-law, and their two children. She was never seen alive again.
Just days later, Floyd Bledsoe—her sister’s 23-year-old husband—was arrested and charged with Camille’s murder. Despite maintaining his innocence, Bledsoe was convicted in April 2000 of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 16 years.
In 2004, the Kansas Supreme Court upheld Bledsoe’s conviction. But questions surrounding the handling of the case persisted, particularly over a pretrial agreement signed by the prosecutor, the county sheriff, and a Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agent to not conduct DNA testing on the evidence.
Bledsoe’s legal team secured permission to test the preserved biological evidence. The results were staggering. DNA from a vaginal swab taken from Camille’s body matched Bledsoe’s brother, Tom Bledsoe—not Floyd. Floyd’s DNA was not found on any of the tested evidence. Additional DNA evidence, including samples found on Camille’s socks, implicated Tom and the brothers’ father in the disposal of the body.
As the case unraveled, Tom Bledsoe died by suicide on November 9, 2015, in Bonner Springs. He left behind handwritten confessions, including a note addressed to his parents in which he admitted to raping and killing Camille and implored them to "please tell Floyd I am sorry."
One month later, on December 8, 2015, Judge Gary Nafziger vacated Floyd Bledsoe’s convictions. Prosecutors dropped all charges, and Bledsoe walked free after spending nearly half his life imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.
Today
Since his 2015 exoneration, Bledsoe has settled in Hutchinson and started four businesses. Among them is F-N-J Construction, a home remodeling and decking company, and Bledsoe Serenity Homestead, a working farm where he sells fresh produce and teaches others how to grow their own food.
The journey from prison to purpose hasn’t been easy.
“It takes a toll — mentally, emotionally. It just drains you,” Bledsoe said of his wrongful incarceration. “But it’s also made me who I am today. I went in at 23 and came out at 39. It taught me what true family really is — and sometimes, that’s not the one you’re born into, but the people who choose to walk alongside you.”
Now a father to three young children, Bledsoe’s focus is on creating meaningful experiences — both for his family and the broader community.
That mission comes to life at the Serenity Homestead, where children can interact with animals, ride horses, and experience hands-on farming.
“One of my goals is to teach people how to become self-sustaining,” he said. “You don’t have to rely on the grocery store if you know how to grow your own food.”
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Bledsoe said. “I’ve learned a lot of stuff, gained a lot of great friends, and built a completely different life.”