Karen Jo Smith, a 35-year-old mother from Indianapolis, was last seen on December 27, 2000, at her residence on Weghorst Street. Her son reported that Karen's ex-husband, Steven Halcomb, was present at their home that night, and Karen appeared to be in a drug-induced sleep. The following morning, Karen was gone, and she missed an appointment later that day. Her children, who were home at the time, reported not hearing anything suspicious during the night.
Karen’s financial situation was unstable, and she had previously filed for bankruptcy. She also felt threatened by Halcomb, who had recently been paroled after a drug-related conviction. Halcomb disappeared at the same time as Karen, failing to show up for work the following day. He eventually turned himself in after violating parole in January 2001, but he maintained his innocence. Despite extensive investigations, Karen’s body has never been found.
Halcomb was later indicted for Karen’s murder in 2003, and a former cellmate testified that he had confessed to strangling her. In 2004, Halcomb was convicted of her murder and sentenced to 95 years in prison. Though convicted, Halcomb has continuously maintained his innocence, and Karen's remains have never been recovered. Her family continues to seek closure, as foul play is strongly suspected in her disappearance.Last Seen: Dec 27, 2000
