INDIANAPOLIS — The man accused of killing an Indianapolis woman more than 30 years ago faced a judge for the first time Wednesday afternoon.
Dana Shepherd appeared in a Boone County, Missouri courtroom via video call from the jail on Sept. 4. The judge denied his bond and set for an extradition hearing on Sept. 26.
Shepherd was arrested in Boone County, Missouri, on Friday, Aug. 30. He is charged in Marion County, Indiana. Shepherd reportedly works for the University of Missouri as a custodian.
"She was taken from me when I was a freshman in high school, and I'm glad the man who did it is where he belongs," said Carmen Van Huss' brother, Jimmy, at a press conference on Sept. 3.
"For 31 years, the family of Carmen Van Huss has been searching for answers and justice. While nothing can ever replace their loved one, we hope that today's arrest brings them some measure of peace," said Deputy Chief Kendale Adams, of IMPD's Criminal Investigations Division, on the day of Shepherd's arrest. "We remain dedicated to bringing justice to all victims and will continue to pursue every lead, no matter how much time has passed."
Police say advancements in DNA testing, combined with the use of information found in genealogy databases, brought results that eventually led investigators to Shepherd.
"For more than 31 years, Van Huss' family and friends never had the closure of knowing who was responsible for this heinous crime," said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. "Thanks to the resilient work of several individuals, many of whom have since retired, we have reached this point, and the defendant will no longer have the undeserved freedom he has had for 31 years."
On March 24, 1993, Van Huss, who was 19 years old, was found raped and murdered in her north Indianapolis apartment in the 8200 block of Harcourt Road, near West 79th Street and Ditch Road.
Carmen's father called 911 after he found his daughter dead on the floor of her apartment.
According to court documents, one of Carmen's co-workers at a local Pizza Hut called her father after she didn't show up to work.
Carmen's father told detectives he tried calling her multiple times but never got a response, so he drove to her apartment to check on her.
Court documents say Carmen's father showed up at her apartment, and he said the front door was unlocked, so he went in the apartment and found his daughter dead on the floor.
Detectives said Carmen was found naked, and there were obvious signs of a struggle at the scene, including a knocked over table, clothes thrown on the floor, a large pool of blood near Van Huss' head and blood splatter around her body.
According to court documents, detectives said Carmen had multiple puncture wounds to her head, face and body.
The Marion County Coroner's Office determined Carmen's cause of death was from stab wounds to the head and ruled her manner of death a homicide. The corner's office said she had 61 stab wounds on her body.
According to court documents, Shepherd was Van Huss's neighbor at the time of her murder. He will stay in jail until his Sept. 26 hearing.