A Columbia man charged with the gruesome 1993 cold case murder and rape of a woman in Indianapolis is jailed without bond in Boone County, and will appear in court Wednesday afternoon for a confined docket hearing.
52-year-old Dana Jermaine Shepherd is charged in Boone County with the felony of being a fugitive from out-of-state.
Indianapolis television station WTHR reports Shepherd is charged with murder and rape for the 1993 killing of Carmen Hope Van Huss. WTHR’s Marina Silva reports court documents say Van Huss was stabbed 61 times and had multiple puncture wounds to her head, face and body. Court documents say Shepherd lived in the same apartment complex as Van Huss in 1993. WTHR reports Shepherd has been working for the University of Missouri as a custodian.
Boone County prosecutors have filed paperwork, saying Shepherd “poses a danger to the community and is believed to be a flight risk” because he’s a fugitive from justice.
Dana Shepherd will also appear in court on September 26 for an extradition hearing. If Shepherd waives extradition, he will be transported to Indiana to face trial. The Boone County prosecutor’s court filing indicates that Indiana will pick him up. However, if he fights extradition, the process could be delayed for about 60 days due to legal proceedings. If that happens, Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb would have to get involved and sign extradition papers.
