MARKLE, IN – An Indiana man has been sentenced to 85 years in prison for the brutal murder of his grandmother, whose body was discovered concealed beneath carpet and lattice in her backyard. Anthony Castleman, 37, was handed a 65-year sentence for the murder charge, with an additional 20 years added due to his status as a habitual offender.

Castleman’s conviction for the murder of 72-year-old Bernice Eubank came swiftly on October 31, with a jury reaching a decision in mere minutes. Testimony revealed that he inflicted 36 stab wounds on his grandmother, a violent act that shocked the community and law enforcement alike.

“We’ll never have complete closure, but this helps knowing he will not see the light of day again,” said John Chaney, Eubank’s son, expressing a measure of relief following the sentencing.

The gruesome homicide was uncovered on November 12 after Eubank’s family reported her missing to authorities. Eubank’s body was later found outside her Markle residence, approximately 30 miles from Fort Wayne. Investigators believe she had been deceased for several days before the grim discovery.

“In all my years of law enforcement, this may be one of the most brutal scenes I’ve ever seen or been part of,” remarked Huntington County Sheriff Chris Newton, underscoring the severity of the crime.

Reportedly, Castleman had been residing with Eubank. Suspicion was raised when Eubank’s daughter noticed a section cut from a rug, prompting a call to law enforcement. Deputies subsequently located the deceased Eubank near a barn in her backyard, hidden under carpet and lattice.

The Huntington County Coroner’s office confirmed that Eubank died from multiple sharp force injuries, categorizing her death as a homicide. Castleman was quickly identified as the primary suspect in this heinous act.

Further investigation revealed that prior to Eubank’s body being found, Castleman had visited a cousin, requesting bleach to clean up what he described as a “mess.” He ominously alluded to the severity of the situation by stating, “I’m going to prison for a long time.” Law enforcement later tracked Castleman down to Georgia, where he was arrested in December.

Eubank was remembered in her obituary as a dedicated receptionist at the Caylor-Nickel Clinic in Bluffton, where she worked for over three decades. Her life, tragically cut short, left a hole in the community she served.