On August 19, 1975, at 10:45 p.m. three young teen girls were leaving a gas station in an eastside neigborhood of Indianapolis. The girls decided to hitchhike, and a white male driving a station wagon pulled over and offered to give them a ride.
As the girls were in the vehicle, they realized the male had continued to drive past their final destination. The girls attempted to get out of the vehicle but were unable to. Eventually, the male stopped the car near a cornfield in Greenfield, Indiana.
The suspect forced the three girls out of the vehicle and bound two of them. He then proceeded to sexually assault one of the girls before stabbing her. During the vicious attack, the suspect also stabbed the other two girls numerous times. As the girls laid in the cornfield, the suspect fled the area.
Eventually, two of the girls were able to make it back to the main road where they were rescued by passerby and police were called.
All three girls were rushed to the hospital and incredibly, all survived the heinous attack.
Over the years, the survivors of the attack kept in contact with police and the case was revisited, but a clear suspect had never been developed.
In April of 2023, DNA Labs International re-analyzed DNA samples from the crime scene using forensic genetic genealogy technology and were able to develop a profile for the suspect in this case. Further research on ancestry was conducted, and the pool of family members of the suspect continued to narrow.
In August of 2023, the genealogists at DNA Labs International were able to use FamilyTree.com, GEDmatch.com, and DNA of the suspect to identify the daughter of the suspect.
The suspect was identified as Thomas Edward Williams, who died in November of 1983 while in prison in Galveston, Texas.
“Today’s 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.” said Chief Kendale Adams.