Two males arrested in 1975 cold-blooded killing of 17-year-old Indiana lady

Two suspects had been charged Tuesday within the 1975 slaying of a 17-year-old Indiana lady after science just lately helped crack the case, authorities mentioned.

The suspects, recognized as Fred Bandy Jr., 67, of Goshen, and John Wayne Lehman, 67, of Auburn, had been arrested Monday at their house in Indiana, state police mentioned.

Laurel Jean Mitchell, 17, of North Webster was final seen on Aug. 6, 1975, when she left work at a church camp in Kosciusko County round 10 p.m., Indiana State Police Capt. Kevin Smith mentioned at a information convention.

The suspects face one rely of homicide every and are being held with out bond within the Noble County Jail, state police mentioned in an announcement.

Though the case spanned a number of jurisdictions, the defendants had been being tried in Noble County, the place Mitchell’s physique was found.

No protection legal professional of report was listed on the courtroom docket within the case. The Noble County Public Defender’s Company didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Noble County Prosecutor James Mowry mentioned at a information convention in regards to the case that authorities with search warrants searched every suspect’s house and obtained DNA in Lehman’s case.

“Science has lastly given us the proof we’d like, taking part in an necessary function in submitting costs,” Indiana State Police Capt. Kevin Smith mentioned on the information convention.

Based on an affidavit filed in assist of the warrant request, witnesses tied the boys to Mitchell’s homicide and DNA proof linked one of many suspects within the case. The Associated Press reported.

Mitchell was working at a church camp close to North Webster Lake when he went lacking, authorities mentioned. His dad and mom referred to as police when he did not return from work, and the subsequent day authorities discovered his physique, about 17 miles north of the camp, within the water, they mentioned.

The reason for demise was decided to be drowning, however a health worker mentioned on the time that his physique confirmed indicators of a wrestle.

Authorities couldn’t say on the information convention whether or not the 2 males accused knew one another or what function they believed every could have performed within the crime.

Preliminary courtroom hearings for every man had been anticipated Wednesday in Noble Circuit Courtroom, in response to state police and courtroom information.

This text was initially printed NBCNews.com