The Case He Would NOT Let Go #carmenvanhuss #crimejunkies #truecrimeshorts #podcast

The detective who solved this murder The detective who solved this murder wasn't even a homicide detective. When wasn't even a homicide detective. When wasn't even a homicide detective. When 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss was murdered 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss was murdered 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss was murdered in 1993, the investigation slowly went in 1993, the investigation slowly went in 1993, the investigation slowly went cold. Years passed, and then in 2013, cold. Years passed, and then in 2013, cold. Years passed, and then in 2013, someone who wasn't even assigned to someone who wasn't even assigned to someone who wasn't even assigned to homicide picked up the file. Sergeant homicide picked up the file. Sergeant homicide picked up the file. Sergeant Bill Carter. And Bill wasn't a cold case Bill Carter. And Bill wasn't a cold case Bill Carter. And Bill wasn't a cold case detective, he wasn't even working in detective, he wasn't even working in detective, he wasn't even working in homicide, but he had previously solved homicide, but he had previously solved homicide, but he had previously solved another Indiana cold case almost another Indiana cold case almost another Indiana cold case almost entirely in his spare time. So, another entirely in his spare time. So, another entirely in his spare time. So, another officer walked up to him and basically officer walked up to him and basically officer walked up to him and basically said, like, "Listen, there is this case said, like, "Listen, there is this case said, like, "Listen, there is this case that has haunted me for years. Would you that has haunted me for years. Would you that has haunted me for years. Would you mind taking a look?" mind taking a look?" mind taking a look?" Bill said yes. And that quick look Bill said yes. And that quick look Bill said yes. And that quick look became something that he could not let became something that he could not let became something that he could not let go of. He tracked down witnesses no one go of. He tracked down witnesses no one go of. He tracked down witnesses no one had spoken to in years and collected DNA had spoken to in years and collected DNA had spoken to in years and collected DNA from dozens of men all while still from dozens of men all while still from dozens of men all while still working his regular full-time job. And working his regular full-time job. And working his regular full-time job. And then DNA technology finally reached the then DNA technology finally reached the then DNA technology finally reached the point where another test could move this point where another test could move this point where another test could move this case forward, and it cost less than a case forward, and it cost less than a case forward, and it cost less than a thousand dollars, but officials wouldn't thousand dollars, but officials wouldn't thousand dollars, but officials wouldn't pay for it. So, Bill, you know, came up pay for it. So, Bill, you know, came up pay for it. So, Bill, you know, came up with an idea. He thought this would be with an idea. He thought this would be with an idea. He thought this would be simple. He started a GoFundMe. And the simple. He started a GoFundMe. And the simple. He started a GoFundMe. And the money to cover the testing came in in money to cover the testing came in in money to cover the testing came in in just seven hours. Problem solved, right?

just seven hours. Problem solved, right? just seven hours. Problem solved, right? Wrong. His department ordered him to Wrong. His department ordered him to Wrong. His department ordered him to return the donation, pulled him off the return the donation, pulled him off the return the donation, pulled him off the case, and suspended him for 10 days. case, and suspended him for 10 days. case, and suspended him for 10 days. They reminded the public that people They reminded the public that people They reminded the public that people should stay in their lanes. Carmen's should stay in their lanes. Carmen's should stay in their lanes. Carmen's family was furious. They started a family was furious. They started a family was furious. They started a petition and demanded that Bill be put petition and demanded that Bill be put petition and demanded that Bill be put back on the investigation. And I don't back on the investigation. And I don't back on the investigation. And I don't know if it worked or if it was a know if it worked or if it was a know if it worked or if it was a coincidence, but he did end up being coincidence, but he did end up being coincidence, but he did end up being allowed to continue helping very much allowed to continue helping very much allowed to continue helping very much like Loki on the side. And years later, like Loki on the side. And years later, like Loki on the side. And years later, after genetic genealogy finally became after genetic genealogy finally became after genetic genealogy finally became available, it was Bill who started to available, it was Bill who started to available, it was Bill who started to build out the family trees. Bill who build out the family trees. Bill who build out the family trees. Bill who followed the DNA. Bill who got as close followed the DNA. Bill who got as close followed the DNA. Bill who got as close as he could with whatever help he could as he could with whatever help he could as he could with whatever help he could find. And with a little funding help and find. And with a little funding help and find. And with a little funding help and a genealogist toward the end, he was a genealogist toward the end, he was a genealogist toward the end, he was able to finally name Carmen Van Huss's able to finally name Carmen Van Huss's able to finally name Carmen Van Huss's killer. killer. killer. Dana Shepherd. Carmen's family once said Dana Shepherd. Carmen's family once said Dana Shepherd. Carmen's family once said that Bill Carter was the only person who that Bill Carter was the only person who that Bill Carter was the only person who never stopped fighting for her. never stopped fighting for her. never stopped fighting for her. So, you can see why he's making the hero So, you can see why he's making the hero So, you can see why he's making the hero wall at the office. wall at the office. wall at the office. If you want to really look into the If you want to really look into the If you want to really look into the investigation and the politics of investigation and the politics of investigation and the politics of policing, listen to our episode on policing, listen to our episode on policing, listen to our episode on Carmen Van Huss out right now.