The judge further ruled that because of Blessing’s age, it is unlikely Blessing will be restored to competency, even with proper treatment.
Blessing and his daughter, Maria, were charged in April with giving Michael L. Ferryman the shotgun he used in the fatal shooting of deputy Suzanne Waughtel Hopper.
Maria Blessing, Ferryman’s girlfriend, pleaded guilty to complicity to having weapons under disability and was sentenced in July to five years in prison. She was also sentenced to a year in prison for an obstruction of justice charge.
Charges against Jean Blessing have been dismissed because he is incompetent to stand trial due to memory problems or dementia and does not pose a risk to the community, Prosecutor Andy Wilson said.
“I initially thought he understood what he did. He knew Michael Ferryman had a criminal past and had been involved in a shooting with officers before and felt he needed to be held accountable,” Wilson said.
“I don’t think he thought in a million years he would do it again. He probably wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Jean Blessing’s inability to stand trial brings an end to the Hopper case that began at Enon Beach Recreation Park on Jan. 1, when Ferryman shot and killed Hopper when she and her supervisor responded to a call about shots fired at the campground, 2401 Enon Road.
Jean Blessing purchased the gun used in the shooting at the Old English Gun Shop in Tipp City in October 2010 and it was given to Ferryman when he and Maria Blessing were scheduled to move to Georgia.
The couple never made it. After Ferryman shot Hopper on New Year’s Day, he was killed in a shootout with Clark County deputies.
Jean Blessing told the News-Sun earlier this year he did not know Ferryman had mental health issues, but later admitted he was aware Ferryman had been treated for dementia.
Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said the end of Blessing’s case does not bring an end to the sadness his department and the Hopper family feel about her death.
“I respect the court’s decision. ... It brings closure as far as the investigation and the judicial process, but it’s never going to be closed for us who were out there and her family.”
About the Author