The Surprising Reason It Took More Than 30 Years to Arrest a Black Missouri Man For an Alleged Rape and Murder

An Indiana father went looking for his 19-year-old daughter after she didn’t show up for work. What he didn’t know was when he walked into her Illinois apartment, his family’s life would be changed forever.

Carmen Van Huss was found naked with over 60 stab wounds on March 23, 1993. A probable cause affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail said, “There were obvious signs of a struggle, including a knocked over table, clothing thrown on the floor, a large pooling of blood near the victim’s head, and blood spatter around the victim’s body.”

Van Huss’ downstairs neighbor also told police he heard cries, screams, and “noises and voices of a male arguing that lasted approximately 30 minutes,” per the Daily Mail.

Even though police recovered DNA from the brutal crime scene, they didn’t find her killer. According to USA Today, 20 years later in 2013, the same DNA from the scene was uploaded to CODIS, the nationwide law enforcement DNA database, but wasn’t connected to a suspect until now.

At some point, a partial match to the suspect’s distant relative was found voluntarily submitted their DNA to the database, the Independent reported. So in February 2024, authorities knocked on Dana Shepherd’s apartment door and handed him a warrant. Police obtained the 52-year-old’s DNA, and four months later they matched it to the Van Huss crime scene.

Shepherd was visibly shaking when police first presented him with the warrant, investigators wrote in an affidavit. He was arrested Aug. 30 in Columbia, Miss. and charged with the 1993 rape and murder, according to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department.

“For 31 years, the family of Carmen Van Huss has been searching for answers and justice,” said Deputy Chief Kendale Adams. “While nothing can ever replace their loved one, we hope that today’s arrest brings them some measure of peace.”

Van Huss’ father, James Van Huss Sr., died before his daughter’s alleged killer was found. His son, Van Huss Jr. said during a press conference, “For my dad to have to find his daughter after what was brutally done to her makes this day bittersweet.” He continued “I wish he was here to see it.”

Shepherd virtually appeared in court on Sept. 4, according to WTHR. He was denied bond, and a judge set his extradition hearing for Sept. 26.