A 19 year old is killed inside her apartment when an unidentified man visits In March of 1993, the life of 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss was tragically cut short in her Indianapolis apartment. A vibrant young woman, she was found by her father after she failed to show up for her job as a waitress at a local Pizza Hut. The scene that greeted him was one of unimaginable violence; his daughter had been brutally raped and stabbed 61 times. For decades, the case remained cold, a source of unending grief and unanswered questions for her family and friends.
Investigators interviewed dozens of people and pursued numerous leads, but the trail to her killer grew cold, leaving a community haunted by the savage nature of the crime.
The initial investigation revealed that on the night of her murder, neighbors heard a man's voice and laughter coming from Carmen's apartment, followed by sounds of a struggle and a woman yelling, 'Get off me!'. Despite the collection of DNA evidence from the scene, including on a paper bag, the technology of the time was unable to identify a suspect. Her then-boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend were both investigated and eventually cleared, deepening the mystery of who could have committed such a heinous act. The case languished for years, a painful reminder of justice denied for Carmen and her loved ones.
Decades later, a breakthrough finally came through the advancement of forensic technology. In 2018, detectives submitted the DNA evidence from the crime scene for genetic genealogy analysis. This cutting-edge technique eventually led investigators to a potential suspect. In 2024, after further investigation and obtaining a direct DNA sample, the Marion County Forensic Services Agency confirmed a match to 52-year-old Dana Shepherd. It was discovered that Shepherd had been Carmen's neighbor, living in the same apartment complex at the time of her murder.
In August 2024, 31 years after Carmen's death, Dana Shepherd was arrested in Columbia, Missouri, where he worked as a custodian for the University of Missouri. He now faces charges of murder, felony murder, and rape in connection with Carmen Van Huss's death. Following his arrest, a Missouri judge ordered his extradition back to Indianapolis to face the charges. The arrest brought a measure of relief to Carmen's family, who had waited more than three decades for answers and the hope of justice for a life taken far too soon.
