Dana Jermaine Shepherd, convicted in the 1993 murder of 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss in Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on February 13, 2026.
Case Details
Van Huss was found stabbed 61 times in her apartment on March 23, 1993, after her father discovered her body when she missed work at Pizza Hut. Neighbors heard her yelling “Get off me!” around 1:30 a.m. that night, followed by footsteps fleeing the scene.
No forced entry occurred, but signs of a struggle were evident, with her naked body in a pool of blood and items strewn about. An autopsy confirmed homicide via multiple stab wounds to her face, head, and body.
Breakthrough and Arrest
DNA from the scene, including blood on a trash bag, went unmatched for decades until genetic genealogy in 2023 identified Shepherd, then 21 and living in the same complex. A fresh DNA sample from him in Missouri matched perfectly.
Arrested in Columbia, Missouri, in August 2024 while working as a janitor, he was extradited to Indiana. He had prior arrests for battery, theft, and other misdemeanors post-murder.
Plea and Sentencing
Shepherd pleaded guilty to one murder count in January 2026 under a deal dropping rape and extra murder charges. Marion County Judge James K. Snyder imposed the maximum 45 years, ensuring decades behind bars at age 53.
Prosecutor Ryan Mears noted the conviction brings justice after 33 years, while Van Huss’s family expressed relief despite the plea not being their preference. Her brother Jimmy highlighted the brutality, especially the trauma to their father.
