CRIME
Suspect In Brutal Stabbing Of 3 Young Girls In Corn Field Identified After Nearly 50 Years
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
The man who abducted three young girls, stabbing them and leaving them for dead in an Indiana corn field nearly 50 years ago, has been identified thanks to genetic genealogy technology, authorities said Thursday.
Kandice Smith, Sheri Rottler Trick and Kathie Rottler miraculously survived the attack, and have waited decades to find out who assaulted them beck in 1975.
On Thursday, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department announced they identified their suspected attacker as Thomas Edward Williams thanks to familial DNA. Williams died in 1983 at the age of 49 while incarcerated in Galveston, Texas, police said.
“Todays announcement is nearly 50 years in the making, but it shows the dedication and perseverance of our detectives and partners. IMPD will hold criminals accountable, no matter how long it takes. While we would like to do this immediately, this may take years and even decades, and we never stop looking for answers,” Deputy Chief of Investigations Kendale Adams said in a statement.
On Aug. 19, 1975, Rottler Trick, then 11, Smith, then 13, and Rottler, then 14, left a gas station in east Indianapolis and hitchhiked home. The suspect, driving a station wagon, gave them a ride. But the girls soon realized something was wrong when he passed their destination.
The girls tried to escape the vehicle, but couldn’t. After pulling out a gun and threatening the girls, the suspect stopped near a corn field in Greenfield. He forced the girls out of the car, and bound two of them. He sexually assaulted one of the girls and stabbed her multiple times, before stabbing the other two girls repeatedly.
“They actually played dead to avoid being stabbed anymore,” Retired Indianapolis Metro Police Sgt. David Ellison said during a press conference Thursday. Two of the girls made their way back to the road to get help.
The girls survived, but the search for the suspect hit a dead end and the case went cold. In 2018, the women asked Ellison to look into their case again.
DNA evidence had been collected in their case, and it pointed to an unknown male. In 2023, Ellison applied to have the DNA analyzed for familial matches by DNA Labs International in Deerfield Beach, Fla.
“The ForenSeq Kintelligence System, the newest Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) technology, was designed specifically for challenging forensic samples, Steve Dubois, a Client Experience Specialist at DNA Labs International, said in a statement. This testing enabled the development of a DNA profile 48 years later that was then used by DLI’s genealogy team to generate a new investigative lead for law enforcement. DLI was also able to confirm this investigative lead using DNA kinship testing.
DNA Labs International were able to use FamilyTree.com, GEDmatch.com, and DNA of the suspect to identify Williams’ daughter.
The testing was funded by Audiochuck, an Indianapolis-based podcast producer.
“When the Audiochuck team was made aware of this need for funding, it was a no brainer for us to step in. We are honored to be standing here today as a small part of the team that made this solve possible. The advancements that have been made in DNA testing is astounding and were encouraged by what this means for cold and ongoing cases,” said Audiochuck Founder & Chief Creative Officer Ashley Flowers.
“My hope is this investigation demonstrates our commitment to justice, no matter how much time has passed. After 48 years, we now can tell these survivors who was responsible for this heinous act,” Adams said.
“I stand here before you today as a survivor who has learned the true meaning of patience. Ive learned that sometimes the answer you are waiting for can take decades to get. Nearly five decades in fact, Rottler said at the news conference.
There are times over the past 48 years that I felt no one was working on this case but I kept hoping and praying and I’m so glad that I kept faith in myself and investigators, Rottler said. My message is to other survivors out there is never give up and continue to fight to keep your case open.
TMX contributed to this article.
