Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Brutal 1993 Murder of Neighbor

Dana Shepherd pleaded guilty to stabbing 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss 61 times in her Indianapolis apartment.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Dana Jermaine Shepherd, 53, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the 1993 murder of his 19-year-old neighbor, Carmen Van Huss, in Indianapolis. Shepherd pleaded guilty to one count of murder after stabbing Van Huss 61 times in her apartment, leaving her body in a pool of blood for her father to find the next day. The case went unsolved for over 30 years until DNA evidence linked Shepherd to the crime in 2023.

Why it matters

This case highlights the lasting trauma and impact of violent crimes, even decades later. The Van Huss family had to wait over 30 years for justice and closure, and the victim's father was forced to discover her brutalized body. It also underscores the importance of advancements in forensic science and DNA analysis in solving cold cases.

The details

On March 22, 1993, Carmen Van Huss visited her grandmother in the hospital and then dropped off her father and 3-year-old brother at their home before going to her own apartment. Witnesses reported hearing Van Huss and an unidentified man talking and laughing in the apartment around 11:30 pm, but about two hours later, a neighbor heard Van Huss yelling "Get off me!" The following day, Van Huss' father discovered her naked body on the bedroom floor, stabbed 61 times. A subsequent autopsy ruled the death a homicide. DNA evidence collected at the time sat untested until 2023, when it was matched to Dana Shepherd, who had lived in the same building as Van Huss in 1993. Shepherd was arrested in Missouri in 2024 and extradited to Indiana.

  • On March 22, 1993, Van Huss visited her grandmother and dropped off her family before going to her apartment.
  • Around 11:30 pm on March 22, 1993, witnesses heard Van Huss and an unidentified man talking and laughing in her apartment.
  • Around 1:30 am on March 23, 1993, a neighbor heard Van Huss yelling "Get off me!"
  • On March 23, 1993, Van Huss' father discovered her body in her apartment.
  • In 2023, DNA evidence from the crime scene was matched to Dana Shepherd.

The players

Dana Jermaine Shepherd

A 53-year-old man who pleaded guilty to murdering his 19-year-old neighbor, Carmen Van Huss, in 1993.

Carmen Van Huss

A 19-year-old woman who was brutally murdered in her Indianapolis apartment in 1993.

Jimmy Van Huss

The victim's brother, who spoke about the violent nature of the crime and the lasting impact on his family.

Ryan Mears

The Marion County Prosecutor who secured the murder conviction against Shepherd over 30 years after the crime.

James K. Snyder

The Marion County Superior Court judge who sentenced Shepherd to 45 years in prison.

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What they’re saying

“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. Our hope is that this resolution brings a measure of justice and peace to her loved ones, after three decades of waiting for answers.”

— Ryan Mears, Marion County Prosecutor (WTHR)

“We hope after all this time people understand how violent my sister's murder was. She was raped and stabbed over 60 times. My dad had to see that, blood everywhere, his daughter naked, lying there. He had to see that. That changed him forever.”

— Jimmy Van Huss, Victim's brother (WXIN)

“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. 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.”

— Van Huss Family (WXIN)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Dana Shepherd out on bail pending his 45-year sentence.

The takeaway

This case highlights the lasting trauma and impact of violent crimes, even decades later. The Van Huss family had to wait over 30 years for justice and closure, and the victim's father was forced to discover her brutalized body. It underscores the importance of advancements in forensic science and DNA analysis in solving cold cases.