More than three decades after a young woman was brutally killed inside her Indiana apartment, the man responsible has finally been sentenced. The case, which remained unsolved for years, has now reached a conclusion after new DNA evidence helped investigators identify the killer.
Man Sentenced for 1993 Murder of Neighbor
Dana Jermaine Shepherd, 53, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for the 1993 murder of 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss. Marion County Superior Judge James K. Snyder handed down the sentence on Friday.
Shepherd pleaded guilty last month to one count of murder as part of a deal with prosecutors. In exchange for his guilty plea, an additional charge of rape with a weapon and deadly force was dropped.
Prosecutor Ryan Mears said that while nothing can erase the family’s pain, the conviction brings some measure of justice after more than 30 years of waiting.
What Happened on the Night of the Killing
On March 22, 1993, Carmen Van Huss visited her grandmother in the hospital. Later that evening, she dropped her father and 3-year-old brother off at their Indianapolis home before heading to her own apartment on Harcourt Road.
Around 11:30 p.m., witnesses said they heard Van Huss talking and laughing with a man inside her apartment. However, about two hours later, a neighbor reported hearing her yell, “Get off me!” followed by the sound of footsteps running from the apartment.
The next day, her manager at a local Pizza Hut called her father after she failed to show up for work. When her father was unable to reach her, he went to her apartment and made a heartbreaking discovery.
A Brutal Crime Scene
Deputies responding to the apartment found Van Huss lying on her bedroom floor. She had suffered 61 stab wounds to her face, head, and body. The scene showed clear signs of a violent struggle, with furniture knocked over and items scattered throughout the home.
An autopsy confirmed that her death was a homicide.
Her brother, Jimmy Van Huss, later spoke publicly about the trauma their family endured. He described how violent the attack was and how deeply it affected their father, who had to witness the scene.
Breakthrough Through DNA Technology
Although DNA evidence was collected at the scene in 1993, the technology at the time was not advanced enough to identify a suspect.
In 2023, a private analysis company helped identify Shepherd as a possible match. Detectives discovered that he had been 21 years old at the time of the murder and had lived in the same apartment building as Van Huss.
In 2024, investigators located Shepherd working as a janitor in Columbia, Missouri. They obtained a DNA sample, which matched the evidence from the crime scene.
Shepherd was arrested in Missouri in August 2024 and later extradited to Indiana to face charges.
Family Reacts to Sentencing
After the sentencing, the Van Huss family released a statement expressing mixed emotions. While they said the plea deal was not their first choice, they were grateful that the man responsible was finally being held accountable.
They shared that for decades, the perpetrator had lived freely while their family lived with pain and unanswered questions. Although nothing can undo the loss, they said they are thankful that justice has finally been served.
Justice After Three Decades
The case highlights how advancements in DNA technology continue to solve long-standing cold cases. For the Van Huss family, the sentencing marks the end of a painful 33-year wait for answers.
While the loss of Carmen Van Huss can never be undone, her family now has some sense of closure knowing that the man who took her life will spend decades behind bars.
