In the quiet town of Elkhart, Indiana, the life of 28-year-old Marlys Harper, a mother of two, was brought to a tragic and abrupt end on the night of September 9, 1999. She was a woman known for her cheerful disposition and unwavering dedication to her children. On that fateful night, what began as a peaceful evening at her home on West Lexington Street would end in a violent act that left a family shattered and a community in search of answers.
Just after midnight, the sound of a single
gunshot pierced the stillness of the night. Marlys's young son, Crispin, who was asleep on the couch, was startled awake by the loud noise. He went to look for his mother and found her slumped against the back door in the kitchen, having been shot. It is believed she may have been answering the door when she was attacked. Panicked, the young boy ran to a neighbor's house for help. When police and medics arrived, they found a neighbor attempting to perform CPR. Marlys was rushed to a local hospital, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The investigation into Marlys Harper's murder has stretched on for decades, becoming a cold case that continues to haunt her family and the Elkhart community. In the initial stages of the investigation, suspicion fell on Marlys's boyfriend at the time, Tommy Rees. However, he had an alibi, stating he was out of town, which was later verified by police. Another theory emerged from an incident in 1993, where Marlys and her cousin had testified against a man involved in a shooting at a party. Her cousin later received a threatening phone call that she believed was connected to this man. Despite this lead, no charges were ever brought against him in relation to Marlys's death.
Over the years, the case has seen several investigators, one of whom, a former Elkhart police officer, resigned amid an internal investigation into his conduct on other cases. The lack of concrete evidence and the passage of time have made finding justice for Marlys a difficult endeavor. Her family has continued to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to an arrest. The case remains open, a painful reminder of a life cut short and a killer who has never been brought to justice.
