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Last updated on Monday, August 29, 2016
(SALEM) - Alleged murderer Joe Hambel appeared for a bond hearing at the Washington County Circuit Court, Thursday morning.
29-year-old Hambel has been charged with two counts of murder following the deaths of 37-year-old Valerie Dicus and 36-year-old Joe Hobson early Saturday, August 20.
He was initially to be held without bond, but Judge Larry Medlock scheduled a bond hearing for 9 a.m. Thursday. That bond was denied.
Public defender Mark Clark will be representing Hambel.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 22, with a trial date set for January 3.
Hamble told police that he killed 36-year-old Joseph Hobson with a .32 caliber handgun saying that 'he just took care of one of Washington County's biggest drug problems.'
During his arraignment last week, Judge Medlock entered a not guilty plea on Hambel's behalf and he was remanded to the Washington County Detention Center.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Hambel, of Salem, drove to a home at 304 West Small Street, Apartment 13 early August 20 because he believed Hobson and 37-year-old Valerie Dicus, who is related to Hambel, were dealing drugs.
Dicus died of a single gunshot wound and Hobson died of multiple gunshot wounds. Hambel told police he accidentally shot Dicus.
Hambel was arrested by the Indiana State Police early Saturday evening and charged with two counts of murder.
A 17-year-old told police that he was with Hambel on Friday night and into the early morning hours Saturday. He told the officers that he was a passenger in the car when Hambel drove to 304 W. Small St. twice.
Upon learning of the death investigation, Salem City Police Officer Ronnie Mays contacted investigating officers to tell them of a strange encounter he had on Friday. The probable cause affidavit says a man knocked on his door while he was at home. When he opened the door, Mays saw the man was wearing a handgun.
The man told Mays he was related to Valerie Dicus and that he had a nephew in Dicus' home on Small Street where he said drugs were being dealt. He told Mays he wanted to do something about the drug problem in Salem. Mays later realized that man was Hambel.
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