by Indianapolis, Indiana – More than three decades after a 19-year-old woman was brutally raped and stabbed to death inside her apartment, a DNA breakthrough has led to a conviction, closing one of Marion County’s long-standing cold cases.
Dana Shepherd, 53, was sentenced Friday to 45 years in prison after signing a plea agreement last month in which he admitted to the 1993 killing of Carmen Van Huss. The plea deal avoided a trial that had been scheduled for next week.
“While no passage of time can ever heal the unimaginable loss Carmen’s family has endured, we are grateful to secure a murder conviction more than 30 years after this heinous crime,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement.
Brutal 1993 crime scene
Van Huss was found dead in her Indianapolis apartment in 1993. Authorities said she had been raped and stabbed 61 times after an intruder broke into her home.
Her body was discovered by her father, according to local reports. Police described a violent struggle inside the apartment, including a knocked-over table and scattered items throughout the room. She was found lying in a large pool of blood.
The case went unsolved for decades, despite ongoing investigative efforts.
DNA evidence reopens cold case
Shepherd, who was 20 years old at the time of the murder, was not identified as a suspect in 1993. It wasn’t until advances in DNA testing linked him to evidence collected at the scene that investigators were able to move forward.
Authorities arrested Shepherd in August 2024 in Columbia, Missouri, more than 30 years after the killing. He was extradited to Indianapolis to face charges of murder and rape with deadly force.
Under the plea agreement, Shepherd admitted to the murder charge, and the additional charges were dismissed.
Criminal history and sentencing
Court records show Shepherd had prior criminal charges in Indiana before the 1993 killing, including battery and public intoxication. After moving to Missouri, he was also charged with offenses including stealing, disturbing the peace and driving without a license.
On Friday, a judge formally sentenced him to 45 years in prison, bringing legal closure to the decades-old case.
Family responds after 33 years
The Van Huss family released a statement following the sentencing, acknowledging the emotional weight of the plea agreement.
“While this plea deal was not our first choice, we are grateful that after 33 years the man responsible for Carmen’s brutal rape and murder is finally being held accountable,” the family said.
They also reflected on the long years without answers.
“For decades, the perpetrator was able to live a normal life after taking that right away from Carmen and from our family. Nothing can undo that loss or erase the injustice of him living freely for so long, but we are thankful that the truth has finally come to light and that he has not escaped justice.”
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Advances in forensic technology
Prosecutors emphasized that evolving forensic science continues to help solve cold cases once thought unsolvable. DNA advancements have increasingly allowed investigators to revisit evidence and identify suspects years — even decades — later.
While no outcome can reverse the tragedy, officials say the conviction represents a measure of justice for the Van Huss family after more than 30 years of waiting.
Do you believe advances in DNA technology are changing how cold cases are solved? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
