An Indiana man accused of a double murder committed when he was a teenager has been arrested after spending nearly 20 years wanted in connection with the case.
Michael Jerome James, now 35, was taken into custody Friday at his Shelbyville home. Authorities say he is connected to the deaths of 26-year-old Chynna Dickus and her 10-year-old stepson, Blake Dickus, who were found fatally attacked inside their Franklin home more than two decades ago.
Franklin Police, Shelby County Police and an FBI agent participated in the arrest, according to James’ neighbor, Dale Fornett, who spoke with Fox59.
James was 14 when the killings occurred. However, Lance Hamner, the Johnson County prosecutor, said he will face trial as an adult after being indicted on two counts of murder.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the evidence they believe ties James to the two killings.
“All I can say is that [police] brought us an investigation that we took to the grand jury,” Hamner said.
He said the grand jury reviewed the evidence for three weeks before returning the indictment against James.
Sean Dickus, Blake’s father, discovered both bodies inside the residence in July 2006 after coming home from work.
Investigators said Chynna Dickus died from stab wounds. Blake had been stabbed, beaten and suffocated.
A source familiar with the investigation told WTHR that James grew up only a few miles from the house where the murders took place.
James was born in Texas and, neighbors said, had lived in the Shelbyville area for about two years after previously residing in Franklin. Following his mother’s death, he was adopted by his aunt, who moved with him to Indiana.
The source also said James and his sister were removed from their Texas home by Child Protective Services while their mother struggled with drug addiction.
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Even with James’ arrest, investigators have not identified a motive for the killings.
“What was in his mind at the time, being that young to want to do something to those people, especially the little boy?” neighbor Nancy Nigh told Fox59.
In 2015, investigators examined whether a series of burglaries could have been connected to the murders. One of those break-ins occurred on the same day Chynna and Blake Dickus were killed.
Police also looked into the possibility that domestic violence played a role in the case.
Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran praised investigators for refusing to let the decades-old case go cold after the indictment was announced.
“For 20 years, Blake and Chynna’s families have carried the weight of an unimaginable loss, waiting for this day,” Cochran said.
“On behalf of the Franklin Police Department, I want them to know that we have never forgotten their loved ones and we have never stopped seeking justice.”
He added that the department’s continued work has brought “a measure of resolution for the victims, their families and the community.”
“This indictment represents the culmination of 20 years of persistent and professional investigative work.
“Detectives reviewed evidence, pursued new leads, leveraged advances in forensic science, and remained committed to Blake, Chynna, and their families every step of the way.”
Cops are not looking for any other suspects or co-conspirators in relation to the killings, Hamner said.
Friday’s arrest came just days after the reward for information on the killings quadrupled to $100,000.
“It is time for those who know something to come forward. It is time for answers,” Hamner said.