Franklin, Indiana — A man accused of killing a 10-year-old boy and his 26-year-old stepmother nearly two decades ago has been arrested, bringing a major development to a case that had remained unresolved for 20 years.
Michael Jerome James, now 35, was arrested Friday at his home in Shelbyville, Indiana, according to authorities. He is accused of killing Chynna Dickus and her stepson, Blake Dickus, who were found dead inside their Franklin home in July 2006.
James was only 14 years old at the time of the killings, but prosecutors say he will be tried as an adult after being indicted on two counts of murder.
Suspect Arrested After Two Decades
James was arrested by members of the Franklin Police Department, Shelby County Police and an FBI agent, according to a neighbor who spoke with local media.
The arrest came more than 20 years after the deaths of Chynna and Blake Dickus shocked the Franklin community. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the evidence that allegedly connects James to the killings.
Lance Hamner, a Johnson County prosecutor, said investigators presented their findings to a grand jury before the indictment was returned.
“All I can say is that [police] brought us an investigation that we took to the grand jury,” Hamner said.
“The grand jury listened to the evidence over a period of three weeks and then they returned that indictment.”
The decision means James will face the serious charges in adult court despite allegedly being just 14 when the killings occurred.
Bodies Were Found Inside Franklin Home
The victims were discovered after Sean Dickus, Blake’s father, returned home from work in July 2006.
Investigators determined that Chynna Dickus had been stabbed to death. Blake, who was only 10, was knifed, beaten and suffocated, according to the information released about the case.
The circumstances surrounding the killings left investigators with questions that remained unanswered for years.
The arrest now gives prosecutors an opportunity to present their case against James, although the evidence supporting the indictment has not yet been made public.
James Had Ties to the Area
Investigators have since determined that James had lived just a few miles from the Dickus home around the time of the killings, according to a source close to the investigation.
James was born in Texas and later moved to Indiana after being adopted by his aunt following his mother’s death. Neighbors said he had lived in the Shelbyville area for about two years after previously living in Franklin.
A source also said James and his sister had been removed from their Texas home by Child Protective Services while their mother was battling drug addiction.
Those details provide additional background on James’ childhood, but authorities have not said whether his family history played any role in the killings.
Motive Remains Unknown
Despite the arrest and indictment, investigators have not revealed a motive for the double killing. That uncertainty continues to weigh on people who knew about the case. James’ neighbor Nancy Nigh questioned what could have driven someone so young to allegedly commit such a violent crime.
“What was in his mind at the time, being that young to want to do something to those people, especially the little boy?” Nigh told.
Authorities have not publicly offered an answer to that question.
Investigators Previously Examined Several Leads
The case remained active for years as investigators explored different possible explanations for the killings.
In 2015, investigators examined whether burglaries could have been connected to the murders. One burglary reportedly occurred on the same day Chynna and Blake were killed.
Police also investigated whether the deaths could have been connected to domestic violence. Neither theory has been identified by prosecutors as the motive behind the killings.
Now, two decades after the deaths, the indictment against James represents the most significant development in the case.
The prosecution still faces the task of presenting evidence in court and establishing its allegations against James beyond a reasonable doubt. An indictment is an accusation, and James is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
For the families and the Franklin community, the arrest could mark the beginning of a long-awaited chapter in a case that has remained open for years.
What do you think about this major development in the 20-year-old Indiana case? Do you think the arrest could finally provide answers for the victims’ families? Share your thoughts in the comments.
