Woman released on bond after 16 years

GREENSBURG, Ind. (WISH) - A Decatur County woman was headed home Wednesday afternoon after being behind bars 16 years for a crime she says she didn’t commit. Kristine Bunch was released on bond Wednesday as she awaits a new trial on charges of murder and arson.

"I didn't think it would come and some days I felt like it would never get here," Bunch said.

Bunch said she plans to live in Columbus with her mother, and she wants to spend time with her son. She had trouble putting into words Wednesday how she felt about leaving jail.

Hours before the bond hearing, Ron Safer, told 24-Hour News 8 he hopes “the state doesn’t compound its error.”

“The new evidence demonstrates that it was an accidental fire. It couldn’t have happened the way the state said it did,” Safer said. “Now, we are hopeful that today she will be free and the state will not persist in the prosecution.”

The fire that killed Bunch’s son and destroyed her home happened June 30, 1995.

Bunch told investigators she tried to put the blaze out but couldn’t. She took off to get help. Prosecutors say she poured kerosene on the floor to set her Greensburg trailer on fire, trapping her young son inside.

In March, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the 38-year-old’s murder conviction after her lawyers argued new science shows there was no evidence of arson in the mobile home fire.

“The court of Appeals order is for a new trial and we are intending to honor the court of appeals order,” the Decatur County Prosecutor, Jim Rosenberry said Wednesday.

Bunch is set to appear in court August 30 in for another hearing.

Rosenberry declined to reveal the argument the prosecution plans to present moving forward.

“I can’t discuss any of the evidence of the case,” Rosenberry said. “The Supreme Court rules don’t allow that. I filed for a gag order on August 9. It hasn’t been ruled on yet. It’s not consistent for me to give a statement when that motion is still pending.”

By contrast, Safer hopes Wednesday will be the end of a long journey in his client’s life.

“There is no evidence that a crime was committed,” Safer said. “Based on what we know now, it is hard to imagine that anybody would testify that this was arson.”