Suspect Emerges in Gay Murders

After a 2-month investigation, the special task force formed to investigate a series of gay-related murders in Central Indiana has produced a prime suspect. State Police Capt. Larry Carmichael, spokesman for the Central Indiana Multi-Agency Investigation team, announced yesterday that after the extensive probe, a suspect has emerged, but he would not disclose the man’s name or hometown.

Carmichael said the man is a suspect in two Indianapolis area murders and two sex slayings in Lake County, Illinois. The special task force was formed in June and since then its investigation has spread into Northern Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. Following an informative call on the task force’s hotline months ago, its members began focusing its efforts on the suspect. He was under surveillance for a long time and at one point a search warrant was obtained, and evidence was seized.

Carmichael declined to say what the evidence consisted of or where it was seized. It was sent to the FBI laboratory in Washington earlier in the week, he said. It was reported that Illinois police officials are awaiting the results of these lab tests before arresting the suspect on a homicide charge. The man, who does not live in Indianapolis, also is a suspect in the Indianapolis area murders of John Roach, 21, and Daniel McNeive, 22.

In addition, the suspect has been linked the slaying of Steven Agan, 23, Terre Haute. His mutilated body was found in an abandoned house in Vermillion County December 28, investigators said. Roach’s body, also found on December 28 was located near I-70 in Putnam County. McNeive’s body was found May 9 in Hendricks County near 1-70, approximately 20 miles from where Roach had been left.

Roach was reportedly hitchhiking on the interstate to visit friends in Plainfield before he was killed. McNeive was seen leaving a West-side tavern with a male companion before he was slain. Investigators said an FBI profile of the murderer of Roach and McNeive fit the suspect “to a T.”

The profile of the killer’s characteristics indicated he was ashamed of his homosexual life and tried to hide it behind a mask of toughness. The task force was formed in an attempt to solve the murders of eight Indianapolis area males between 14 and 27 years of age. Police said all of the victims had links with the city’s gay community.