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Police in Indiana arrested Michael Jerome James, 35, and indicted him for the murders of Chynna Dickus and her stepson Blake Dickus, who were found dead on July 24, 2006. The case remained unsolved for two decades despite efforts like billboards offering rewards that increased from $25,000 to $100,000. Police used forensic science to build the case against James over three weeks of grand jury review.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In July 24, 2006, in Indiana, Sean Dickus returned home to find his wife Chynna Dickus and her stepson Blake Dickus murdered. The case remained unsolved for two decades despite efforts like billboards offering a reward of up to $100,000. Recently, the Franklin Police Department arrested Michael Jerome James, 35, after he was indicted by a grand jury for their murders. The Johnson County Prosecutor's office, led by Lance D. Hamner, has been reviewing evidence since September and now claims that the cold case was instrumental in motivating his career path as a prosecutor.
Written for “Cold Case Solved Arrest” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Police in Indiana have made an arrest in a decades-old cold case involving the deaths of a young boy and his stepmother.
asserted
Police → make → boy
Michael Jerome James, 35, has been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly murdering both Chynna Dickus and her stepson, Blake Dickus, according to the Franklin Police Department.
uncertain
James → indict → Department
On July 24, 2006, Sean Dickus returned to his home and found the bodies of his 10-year-old son, Blake, and his wife, 26-year-old Chynna, according to Fox 59.
uncertain
Dickus → return → Fox
Over the 20 years that the case went unsolved — billboards and posters were put up offering $25,000 rewards for information that led to an arrest.
asserted
that → go → arrest
Then, last month, the billboards began offering more.
asserted
billboards → begin → more
Beginning in September, the reward for information leading to an arrest rose to $100,000.
asserted
reward → begin → 100,000
It seems that did the trick.
asserted
that → seem → trick
Now, police believe they have a suspect.
asserted
they → believe → suspect
“For 20 years, Blake and Chynna’s families have carried the weight of an unimaginable loss waiting for this day,” a statement from the FPD said.
asserted
statement → carry → FPD
“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.
asserted
we → want → justice
Today’s development is an important moment, not only for our department, but most importantly for the families and Blake and Chynna whose lives were taken from them.”
asserted
lives → take → them
FPD Police Chief Kirby Cochran said that investigators used forensic science and persistence to bring the case against James.
asserted
investigators → say → James
Grand jury members reviewed the evidence for three weeks before delivering the indictment.
Johnson County Prosecutor Lance D. Hamner said on Friday that the cold case motivated him to become a prosecutor.
asserted
case → review → him
“This tragic crime occurred during my first tenure as Johnson County Prosecutor in 2006, and the tragedy has remained with me ever since,” Hamner said.
asserted
Hamner → occur → me
“In fact, a primary driving force behind my decision to leave the bench as judge and run for prosecutor once again was to seek justice in this case.
asserted
force → leave → case
This was something I could not talk about at the time.”
uncertain
I → talk → time
He said during the presser that his office cannot share further details about the evidence leading to James' arrest or the grand jury's deliberations at this time.
asserted
office → say → time
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