Michael Jerome James (35) was arrested at his Shelbyville home after a Johnson County grand jury indicted him on two counts of murder in the July 24, 2006 deaths of Chynna Dickus (26) and her stepson Blake Dickus (10). Prosecutors say the grand jury heard evidence over several weeks but have not publicly detailed what links James to the killings; authorities say he would have been 14 at the time and will be tried as an adult. The arrest came after investigators reviewed old evidence, pursued new leads and shortly after the reward was raised to $100,000, and cops say they are not looking for any other suspects.

Chynna and Blake were found stabbed in their Franklin, Indiana home by Sean Dickus on July 24, 2006, and police had long considered links to nearby burglaries and other leads. This is a major development after two decades of the case going cold, tho I hope the family finally gets answers and justice , they deserve it, didnt.

On the afternoon of July 24, 2006, 26-year-old Chynna Dickus and her 10-year-old stepson Blake Dickus were found murdered in their Franklin, Indiana, home by Chynna’s husband and Blake’s father, Sean Dickus, when he returned from work. Both victims had been repeatedly stabbed; investigators say Blake had also been beaten and smothered.

Police reported no signs of forced entry. In the months before the killings a string of unsolved burglaries in the neighborhood showed a distinctive T-shaped cut in window screens to gain access. One of those burglaries occurred the same day and on the same street as the murders, and authorities have explored whether the burglaries and the double homicide are connected, including the possibility the attacker was interrupted during a break-in.

A reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. If anyone knew Chynna or Blake or has information about suspicious activity on that street in July 2006, please come forward.