In the early morning hours of June 15, 2018, a 911 call reporting a garage fire at a vacant home in Indianapolis led firefighters to a grim discovery. In the backyard of the property on the 1100 block of Warman Avenue, they found the burning body of 20-year-old Melissa Runnels. Initially, the remains were so badly burned that authorities could not determine the gender.
An autopsy later revealed the horrifying truth of what happened to the young woman.
Melissa had been fatally shot before her body was set on fire, and her death was officially ruled a homicide. Investigators searched the vacant home near where she was found but discovered nothing of evidentiary value. Neighbors in the area reported that the house had been empty for about a year and a half and did not recognize Melissa.
In the wake of her death, Melissa's mother shared her belief that her daughter's death might be drug-related, stating that Melissa had recently been spending time with a dangerous crowd. Despite this lead and public pleas for information, no arrests have been made in the case, and police have not publicly identified any suspects or a potential motive. Years after her violent death, the case remains unsolved. Melissa's parents, still seeking justice for their daughter, have since hired a private detective to look into the tragic end to her young life.
