Dad hopes for answers in girl's 1986 murder

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - After his 13-year-old daughter was killed nearly 24 years ago, Ted Stuard is still hoping someone comes forward.

The Indianapolis girl’s death was a cold case, but it is about to open up again.

The victim's father talked to 24-Hour News 8 Reporter Daniel Miller about the case.

Ted Stuard said there's not a day that goes by where he doesn't think about his daughter. He said maybe this will be the time someone will have the heart and come forward with news he's been waiting to hear for nearly 25 years.

"She was always quick to smile, always quick to have a little joke on you," Stuard said.

Inside Stuard's Crawfordsville home, he keeps the only picture of his daughter, 13-year-old Dawn Marie, hanging on the wall.

"Over the years it's become a good reminder; it reminds me of the beautiful child that she actually was," he said.

On March 17, 1986 — St. Patrick's Day — Stuard's life changed.

"Your whole world just crashes right there," he said.

Dawn Marie was found dead, brutally raped and murdered. Police recovered her body in Pogues Run on Indy's east side.

"That's the most devastating thing a parent can ever do is identify his daughter,
you know," Stuard said.

And nearly 25 years later Dawn Marie's case has gone unsolved.

"The first couple of years are terrible, 24-25 years later it still hurts, you still mourn, you still look for justice," Stuard said.

But justice just might be coming.

Stuard sat down and talked of a possible development in his daughter's cold case. IMPD detectives are taking another look at the case again. The news comes the same week a one-time prime suspect in the case, Paul Reese, is to be sentenced on an unrelated crime.

"I am hoping with all my heart, somebody comes forward," Stuard said.

Detectives maintain they have not ruled out anyone, including Reese and his son Brian. Brian was convicted of shooting IMPD officer Jason Fishburn in 2008.

"They can't take that to the grave with them; they can not stand in front of their maker and say, ‘Well, I didn't do this,’ because the almighty is going ask why you didn't come forward," Stuard said.

IMPD detectives said even with more DNA evidence than in any other case, they still don't have enough yet to arrest anyone for Dawn's murder. They said they need a key piece of evidence or witnesses to come forward.

Paul Reese was a prime suspect in the case, but police won't say if they are looking at him again. Reece did live down the street from the Stuards. They arrested him in the case two years ago but later let him go.

Both Paul Reese and his son Brian will be sentenced Thursday for their involvement in the murder of Clifford Haddix.