The Franklin, Indiana, cold case that left 10-year-old Blake Dickus and his stepmother, Chynna Dickus, dead in July 2006 has advanced: a Johnson County grand jury has indicted 35-year-old Michael Jerome James on two counts of murder. Records indicate James would have been 14 at the time of the killings. Authorities said the grand jury reviewed evidence and testimony for three weeks, and family members expressed relief at the long-awaited development. Officials emphasized the indictment is a milestone, not the end of the investigation.
Cold Case Arrest: Man Indicted in 2006 Franklin Double Homicide — He Would Have Been 14 at the Time
Blake Dickus; Chynna DickusCredit: Franklin.in.gov
Authorities in Johnson County, Indiana, say they have arrested and indicted a man in connection with the July 2006 shootings that left 10-year-old Blake Dickus and his 26-year-old stepmother, Chynna Dickus, dead — a case that sat cold for more than two decades.
Michael Jerome JamesCredit: Johnson County Prosecutor's Office
Details of the 2006 Crime
On July 24, 2006, Blake and Chynna Dickus were found stabbed to death inside their home in the Branigin Woods subdivision of Franklin, Indiana. The Franklin Police Department maintained a long-running investigation into the double homicide, using billboards, a $25,000 reward and what officials described as "tens of thousands of man-hours" to pursue leads over the years.
Blake DickusCredit: Franklin.in.gov
Arrest and Indictment
In a press release issued on Oct. 2, Franklin police announced that a Johnson County grand jury returned an indictment charging 35-year-old Michael Jerome James with two counts of murder in the case. Jail records reviewed by media outlets indicate James would have been 14 years old at the time of the killings.
Chynna DickusCredit: Franklin.in.gov
Local stations FOX59 and WTHR reported that James was arrested at his home in Shelbyville, Indiana. Photographs published by WTHR show officers handcuffing him at the scene.
Johnson County Prosecutor Lance D. Hamner said the grand jury spent three weeks reviewing evidence and testimony before returning the indictment.
Official Statements and Family Reaction
"For 20 years, Blake and Chynna's families have carried the weight of an unimaginable loss, waiting for this day," Franklin Police Chief Kirby 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."
Prosecutor Lance Hamner added that the case has weighed on him since his first term as Johnson County prosecutor in 2006, and that seeking justice in this matter was a driving factor in his return to the office.
Friends and relatives reacted with a mix of relief and sorrow. Chynna's mother, Marsha, died before an arrest was made; a close friend of Marsha's told local media that Marsha had spent years hoping for answers. That friend described the arrest news as a "sigh of relief" that brought tears of joy after two decades of uncertainty.
What Happens Next
The indictment marks a significant development but does not conclude the legal process. The Franklin Police Department and the Johnson County Prosecutor's Office said they will continue to cooperate and respect the integrity of the judicial process as the case proceeds through the courts.
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