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MURDERED: Carmen Van Huss

July 6, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

MURDERED: Carmen Van Huss

On March 23, 1993, at around 1 AM, residents of the Turtle Creek Apartments in Indianapolis heard a young woman screaming for help. The walls were thin enough that neighbors could make out her words: "Get off me." She repeated this between crying and banging noises for thirty minutes straight. Not a single person called 911. Not a single person went to her door. One neighbor who lived directly across the hall later told a reporter, "I just heard a scream in the middle of the night. I turned over and went back to bed. That's all I know." After half an hour of struggle, hurried footsteps were heard leaving the apartment, and everyone went back to sleep. The only complaint filed that night was a noise complaint to apartment management.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (02:37) **The Night Carmen Van Huss Died** - On March 23, 1993, neighbors at the Turtle Creek Apartments hear a woman screaming "get off me" for 30 minutes, but no one calls 911 or checks on her.
  • 2 (05:05) **Carmen's Body is Discovered** - Carmen's father, James, finds her dead in her unlocked apartment the next day after she missed work.
  • 3 (07:35) **The Brutal Crime Scene & Initial Investigation** - Carmen had 60 stab wounds; the murder weapon was never found.
  • 4 (09:17) **Carmen's Background & Family** - Carmen was raised by her aunt and uncle (the Shots) but remained close to her biological father, James, whose lifestyle was less structured.
  • 5 (15:19) **Retracing Carmen's Last Night** - Police piece together Carmen's final movements: visiting her grandmother, a call to her boyfriend Rob at 9:49 PM, and a mention of running into an "old friend."
  • 6 (19:07) **Initial Suspects & The Case Goes Cold** - Carmen's boyfriend Rob is cleared (he was in Arizona). Ex-boyfriends Josh and Peter are also cleared, despite Peter having a motive (revenge over concert tickets).
  • 7 (22:54) **Enter Sergeant Bill Carter** - In 2013, Sergeant Bill Carter, a non-homicide officer, takes an interest in Carmen's case after solving another cold case (Amy White).

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Show Notes

On March 23, 1993, screams tore through the thin walls of a gated Indianapolis apartment complex as 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss fought for her life. Neighbors heard the attack, but no one called 911. Carmen was assaulted, mutilated, and killed. For decades, her murder remained unsolved – until a relentless investigator identified a suspect. And after more than 30 years, Carmen’s family finally saw justice.

 

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Crime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. 

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