Father wants answers after daughter’s murder suspects released
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Andrew Holmes held a news conference in front of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. Holmes clutched a picture of his daughter, Tamara Sword. In the summer of 2015, Sword was gun downed at a gas station near a gas pump near 38th Street and Lafayette Road.
Police later determined that the mother five died after being caught in a cross fire during a shootout. Days turned into months, and there were no leads in the investigation, or any tips for police to follow-up on.
In June, IMPD announced two arrests in Sword’s investigation. Police arrested Michael Edwards, 33, and Kenneth Jones, 28. In court documents, investigators state that Edwards and Jones were upset with a rival group after at fight at local club.
Police say shots were fired when the two spotted the members of the other group outside of the gas station. A witness told police Edwards watched as Jones pulled the trigger; however, shortly after giving up the details the star witnesses left the city and went into hiding.
It is believed the witness skipped town to avoid criminal charges he was facing in a separate case. Without the star witness prosecutors decided to dismiss the case, which resulted in the release of Edwards and Jones.
According to Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, cases dismissed are not closed. Investigators use the dismissals to go back over evidence, contact other potential witnesses, and even look into forensics or DNA evidence.
“It is important to remember that just because a case is dismissed doesn’t mean that it is over,” said Ryan Mears, Marion County Prosecutor’s Office Supervisor of the Major Felony Division. “We are going to continue to investigate this matter.”
Marion County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed 22 cases in 2015. So far this year, 14 murder or attempted murder cases have been dismissed. Mears also said that four of the cases from 2015 have been refiled, and that two defendants in separate murder case are being tried in federal court.
Holmes made an appeal to witnesses in the dismissed cases.
“Don’t be scared, because you don’t want this to happen to you, I know everyone is fearful for their life, what about my baby,” said Holmes.
Holmes is pushing for the prosecutors to refile the case.
Holmes has a number for people to call if they have any information about some of the unsolved investigations. You can reach Holmes at 1-800-UTELLUS (1-800-883-5587). You can also call into Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS (8477).
