MISHAWAKA — No arrests have been made as of today in the brutal deaths of two Mishawaka women in separate incidents last month, but St. Joseph County homicide detectives said they have formed leads in the cases.
Police are awaiting the results of forensic examinations in the deaths of 33-year-old Barbara Sheppard on Dec. 23 outside the Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco on Lincoln Way East and 84-year-old Lois Hickey, who was found stabbed to death inside her home Dec. 29 in the 300 block of East Donaldson Street.
Although both homicides occurred in the city of Mishawaka within days of each other, police say they are not related. The cases are both ongoing investigations, said Lt. David Wells, assistant commander of the St. Joseph County Homicide Unit.
Wells said a backlog of cases at labs in South Bend and Lowell, Ind., could cause a delay in police receiving the forensic results.
In the Hickey case, police said they recovered blood from the scene that could have been from the killer. The blood will be reviewed at a lab to see if it brings back any matches.
This could be a significant lead if the blood matches that of a person who has been discharged from the Indiana Department of Correction during the past five years. Inmates who exit the IDOC must submit to a mandatory felon DNA test, per state law.
“We believe the (suspect) injured himself at some point in that house,” Wells said. “We’re hoping to get some kind of DNA match.”
Wells encouraged anyone to come forward with information about either homicide. Particularly, if anyone has noticed a cut — possibly to the hand, finger, forearm or head — that appears suspicious in nature, contact police.
“A fresh cut around that time period,” he added.
Hickey died by “sharp force injuries,” which included stab wounds to her upper torso area. She was found after a neighbor had not seen her in days.
Wells declined today to reveal what kind of weapon might have been used or if anything was missing from the home.
When asked whether a recent string of home invasions and robberies in Mishawaka could be linked to the Donaldson homicide, Wells said: “We always look into that.”
“We have close contact with detectives (in Mishawaka),” he said. “We’re working with them daily.”
Home invasions in the city occurred Dec. 30 at Hickory Village Apartments, Dec. 29 at Village Green Mobile Home Park and Dec. 28 at a home in the 600 block of East 12th Street. An armed robbery attempt also occurred Dec. 20 outside a home in the 800 block of West Douglas Road.
Mishawaka Police Chief Ken Witkowski said the recent string of crime has “alarmed” officers. Witkowski added that the department’s street crimes unit is investigating the home invasions, why they’re happening and where.
He said police are looking into whether the home invasions could be connected because some of them are similar in nature, such as the robbers’ methods. However, Witkowski said, it doesn’t appear the home invasions are related to either homicide.
Witkowski said he has a great deal of confidence in the homicide detectives and believes it’s “just a matter of time” until the cases are solved.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP or the homicide unit at 574-235-5009.
“We’re looking for the public’s help again,” Wells said. “Obviously, it’s (Hickey’s) a brutal murder. Whoever did this needs to be caught, and we’re hoping for the public’s help to continue to work this.”
Staff writer Tom Moor:
