Cold case arrest brings family relief

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - In November 1989, 16-year-old Amy Weidner was brutally murdered in the bedroom of her southside Indianapolis home. Now, more than two decades later, police have arrested a man who at the time was a family friend and charged him with murder.

For younger sister, Cassie, and mom, Gloria Weidner, the arrest was a moment of relief after more than two decades of grief.

"It's particularly gratifying to be able to announce today that we filed a charge of murder in the death of Amy Weidner," Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said Tuesday.  

November 13, 1989, Amy Weidner, a junior at Howe High School, an honor student, cheerleader and teenage mom, wasn't feeling well. 

Said the detective at the scene in 1989: "She stayed at home with her 2-year-old daughter. When the victim's mother attempted to call her in the morning around 9 or 10, there wasn't any answer on the telephone."

Gloria Weidner came home for lunch and found her daughter's body in her bedroom, beaten, strangled and sexually assaulted. 

Amy's daughter, Emily, was wandering the upstairs hallway.  

It was a palm print found in the bedroom during the investigation that led to the arrest of  Rodney Denk, now 40, a friend of the family at the time of Amy's death.  

"It's been a long time coming for the family. I will say that. I'm just happy we have someone in custody and we can bring some closure to the family," said  Det. Sgt. William Carter.

Carter is an IMPD officer who took the ongoing cold case investigation and on his own time went back and talked to those who were interviewed in 1989. 

Denk's name was mentioned as someone who knew the family.

Carter found a palm print from a 1997 case for which Denk was arrested but not prosecuted and compared it to the print from the crime scene.

It matched.

Denk was arrested for murder.

Cassie Weidner, Amy's younger sister, spoke for the family. 

"This has been a long time coming, and we're very grateful this day has finally arrived," she said. 

Exactly what happened that day is still not known. But police said while Denk is their man, they are still investigating.

Based on earlier DNA evidence, investigators said there may be a second suspect who was at the scene that day.  

Denk has been charged with murder.

Police said just before his arrest, he cut his wrists. He's in custody at Wishard Memorial Hospital.  

His first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.