A couple callers this week asked whether Frederick P. Hammer, who is currently incarcerated in Virginia for the triple-homicide, had denied the murder of Jimmy Blevins less than two months after his confession ended an 18-month search for the missing Crumpler man.

On Aug. 4, 2009, Ashe County Sheriff James Williams reported that Hammer confessed to the murder (over a matter of approximately $1,600) and demanded $15,000 to reveal the location of Blevins’ body. The Blevins family “didn’t hesitate much,” according to Williams, and quickly raised the funds.

David Blevins, the father of Jimmy, filed a civil law suit on Aug. 13 to get the money returned. Four days later, David Blevins successfully filed a motion for order of interloper and the court demanded the $15,000 (which was paid by certified check to Hammer’s lawyer, Donna Shumate) be turned over to the court. The Ashe County Clerk of Superior Court is holding the money until the hearing is held.

Hammer responded to the civil suit on Sept. 21, denying almost all the allegations made by David Blevins – and then a few more. He denied having “sufficient personal knowledge” about the disappearance of Jimmy Blevins, and later denied killing him (despite his confession that led to the recovery of the body).

In his response, Hammer also denied killing Ronald Hudler, Fred Hudler and John Miller on Jan, 24, 2008, crimes that he confessed to in the Grayson County Courthouse on May 22, 2009, after condemning evidence against him was discovered. He denies being arrested on Jan. 26, 2008, by U.S. Marshals in Punta Gorda, Fla.

Hammer denied pleading guilty on May 22 to the murders of Miller and the Hudlers. (Note: this writer was present in the courtroom and witnessed Hammer plead guilty). He denied talking to authorities about Jimmy Blevins and disclosing the location of the body.

The civil case is expected to go before a jury in the spring. It has been reported recently be other news sources that Hammer “demanded” a jury trial, but Hammer was actually the second to promote the idea – David Blevins requested a jury trial in his original suit on Aug. 13.

Look in future issues of the Ashe Mountain Times for continued coverage of the criminal and civil trials regarding the murder of Jimmy Blevins.