For two decades, the families of Chynna Dickus and her 10-year-old stepson, Blake, have been waiting for answers.
Now, an Indiana cold case that remained unresolved for more than 20 years has taken a major turn.
Michael Jerome James, now 35, has been arrested after a Johnson County grand jury indicted him on two counts of murder in connection with the 2006 case involving Chynna, 26, and Blake, 10.
James was only 14 years old when the incident occurred.
Authorities have not released the evidence that led investigators to identify him as a suspect, but prosecutors say a grand jury spent approximately three weeks reviewing evidence and hearing testimony before returning the indictment.
The arrest has reopened a case that investigators have worked on for years, while also bringing renewed attention to two victims whose families have spent much of their lives waiting for answers.
A Case That Began In 2006
The investigation dates back to July 24, 2006, when Sean Dickus returned to his Franklin, Indiana, home and discovered his 10-year-old son, Blake, and his wife, Chynna, inside the residence.
Authorities determined that both victims had suffered fatal injuries, and the case quickly became one of the most closely watched unsolved investigations in the area.
At the time, there was no clear suspect.
Investigators continued collecting information and following leads, but the case eventually became a long-running cold case.
Over the years, police used billboards, posters and a public reward in an effort to encourage someone with information to come forward.
The original reward was $25,000.
Then, in September 2026, authorities dramatically increased it to $100,000 for information leading to an arrest.
Just days later, the investigation produced its biggest development in two decades.
Investigators Never Fully Walked Away From The Case
Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran said investigators continued working the case even as years passed.
Detectives reviewed existing evidence, followed new leads and took advantage of advances in forensic science as technology developed.
The department’s efforts eventually led to evidence being presented to a Johnson County grand jury.
According to Johnson County Prosecutor Lance D. Hamner, jurors spent three weeks reviewing the case before returning indictments against James.
Because grand jury proceedings are confidential, prosecutors have not publicly explained exactly what evidence connected James to the two killings.
That means one of the biggest questions surrounding the case remains unanswered for now:
What changed after 20 years that allowed investigators to finally bring a suspect before the court?
Authorities have not provided that detail publicly.
What is known is that the case moved from an unresolved investigation to a formal indictment after the grand jury reviewed evidence and testimony.
The Suspect Was Only 14 At The Time
One of the most unusual aspects of the case is James’ age when the incident occurred.
He is now 35.
But in July 2006, he was only 14.
According to local reporting, James grew up in the area and lived only a few miles from the location where Chynna and Blake were found.
He was originally from Texas and later moved to Indiana after being adopted by his aunt, according to reports.
His childhood reportedly included significant family difficulties, including his mother’s struggles with addiction and intervention by child protective authorities.
Those details provide background about James’ early life, but investigators have not said that they explain what allegedly happened in 2006.
The motive also remains unclear.
Prosecutors have not publicly identified a reason they believe James may have targeted Chynna or Blake.
Why Is He Being Tried As An Adult?
Although James was only 14 at the time of the alleged offenses, Johnson County Prosecutor Lance Hamner said he will be prosecuted as an adult.
He is currently facing two murder counts.
The case will now move into the court system, where prosecutors will have to present evidence supporting the allegations.
For now, the indictment itself represents a formal accusation rather than a finding of guilt.
James is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the charges in court.
An initial hearing is expected to be scheduled in Johnson Circuit Court.
A Family Member Never Got To See This Moment
The arrest also carries a painful element for Chynna’s family.
Her mother, Marsha, spent years hoping that someone would eventually be held responsible for what happened to her daughter and grandson.
She passed away before the arrest was announced.
A close friend of Marsha told WTHR that seeing an arrest connected to the case was something she had wanted more than anything.
For the family and those who supported them over the years, the indictment therefore represents more than a new name in a police investigation.
It is the first major courtroom development in a case that has remained unresolved for most of a generation.
What Happens Next?
The investigation is not being described as finished simply because an arrest has been made.
Franklin police said the indictment represents an important milestone, but investigators will continue assisting the prosecutor’s office as the case moves forward.
At this stage, authorities are not publicly seeking additional suspects or co-conspirators in connection with the two killings.
The focus is now on James and the evidence that prosecutors say connects him to the 2006 case.
That evidence remains largely unknown to the public because of the confidential nature of grand jury proceedings.
The coming court hearings could therefore provide the first opportunity for more details about the investigation to become available.
For now, one thing is clear: a case that once seemed destined to remain unresolved has entered a completely new chapter.
For 20 years, Chynna and Blake’s names remained associated with an unanswered investigation in Franklin.
Now, authorities have identified a suspect and brought formal charges.
Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran said investigators never forgot the victims or stopped looking for answers.
For the families, the indictment cannot change what happened in 2006.
But after two decades of waiting, it does provide something they have not had for a very long time — a case moving forward in court.
And as Michael Jerome James faces the next stage of the legal process, prosecutors will now have the opportunity to explain how investigators connected a 35-year-old man to an Indiana case that began when he was just 14.
The allegations against James remain unproven, and the court proceedings will determine what the evidence ultimately shows.