Cold Case Finally Solved After 30 Years
On Friday, a man was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman in Indianapolis, a case that remained cold for over three decades.
Dana Shepherd, now 53, accepted a plea deal last month in which he confessed to killing Carmen Van Hass. His sentencing on Friday marked the conclusion of this long-standing investigation, according to local reports.
“While we know that no amount of time can mend the pain felt by Carmen’s family, we are thankful to have secured a murder conviction after so many years,” said Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. “We hope this outcome provides a sense of justice and peace to her loved ones who have waited for answers for all these years.”
Van Hass was killed in 1993, tragically becoming a victim of a brutal attack where she was raped and stabbed numerous times by an intruder in her own home. Reports indicated that her body was found by her father, lying in a pool of blood, amidst a scene of disarray.
More than three decades passed before Shepherd was arrested in Missouri and brought back to Indianapolis to face charges. Interestingly, he hadn’t been linked to the case until DNA evidence connected him to the crime.
At the time of the murder, Shepherd was just 20 years old. It’s worth noting that he had no previous involvement with the investigation until those DNA results came to light.
In August 2024, police apprehended Shepherd in Columbia, Missouri, and he was extradited to Indianapolis, where he was initially set to go to trial. However, a plea deal was arranged just days before the trial, resulting in the dismissal of additional charges.
Before the murder case, Shepherd had a criminal record in Indiana, with prior arrests for lesser offenses like assault and public intoxication. After 1993, he faced charges in Missouri too, including theft and disturbing the peace.
Following the sentencing, Van Hass’ family released a statement expressing their mixed emotions. They remarked, “Although this plea deal wasn’t what we originally hoped for, we are relieved that after all these years, the person responsible for Carmen’s horrific rape and murder will finally be held accountable.”
They added, “For 33 years, the perpetrator lived a normal life after taking everything from Carmen and from us. While we can’t change the past or erase the pain, we are thankful that the truth has finally surfaced and justice has been served.”
