Dad seeks justice in daughter's death

DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - Nearly two years after his daughter died, a Delaware County dad is crying out for justice.

22-year-old Heather Musick died in a suspicious motel fire in Nov. 2010. No arrests were ever made.

It's a living nightmare for her dad, Herman Musick

He says adding to the pain of losing his daughter is the fact that five people ran from the motel room when the fire started. Including two of the victim's family members.

“They just left her like an unwanted dog on the side of the road, she wasn't that. She was my daughter and she's always going to be my daughter until I lay down and die. I'm never going to forget her and I'm never going to forget what happened here,” said Musick.

On the day of the fire, a passerby noticed the smoke and called 911.

Caller: There is a lady down. Oh my God, there's a lady down on the floor.

Dispatcher: Is she in the room?

Caller: Yes, yes she is.

Heather's body burned so badly, the coroner had to use dental records to identify her.

According to the death certificate, the 22-year-old died, not from the flames or the heat, she died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Her dad says Heather was abandoned as the room burned.

“I'm sick to my stomach everyday I wake up knowing these people are just carrying on like it never even happened. I don't understand how you can do that. Especially as a family member,” said Musick.

Police began their investigation immediately. But still no arrests have been made.

“Right now we have an idea of what happened there,” said Daleville Police Chief James King. He expects arrests will come but notes changing stories and lack of evidence due to the fire have slowed the investigation.

“We are continuing the investigation and will keep going until we can prove what happened out there,” said King.

Herman Musick is finding it difficult to wait. There's not much else he can do.

Musick admits his daughter had a drug problem. She was an addict. He says drugs were the reason she was at the motel.