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‘They didn’t forget’: Vigil gives hope to families of unsolved murder victims

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) It’s been four years since the Harding Street quadruple homicides.

The crime went unsolved until January 2019.

With one man finally behind bars the families are hoping their case will give others hope in unsolved cases.

About 20 people gathered in the 3100 block of North Harding Street to hold a vigil to honor Tiara Turner, Sherri Taylor, Terry Bettis and Davon Whitlock.

They released balloons, lit candles, shared hugs and left heartfelt messages on the house.

Even though we felt like a lot of people forgot. They didn’t forget, said Ivory Smith, the daughter of victim Sherri Taylor. 

Four years ago, the house on Harding Street was the scene of a crime, where the three women and one man were shot and killed in the early morning hours of March 24, 2015.

It was a crime with more questions that family feared would never come with real answers.

It’s never going to happen. It’s never going to happen. And I thought that and I thought that, and I thought that. Year after year. After coming out here year after year, yeah, I thought that, said Jim Smith, homicide victim, Sherri Taylor’s son.

But the answer finally came.

Back in January, WISH-TV reported police arrested Nicholas Dunn, 36, who was already in state prison at the time. He was charged with four counts of murder. 

When asked if the family felt justice had been served, Ivory Smith had mixed feelings.

Yes and no. I’m not going to get my family back. But, him being in jail, it’s a luxury, said Ivory Smith. 

While the family says that real sense of justice may never come, they hope their story of fighting for answers will inspire others to do the same.

I just don’t want people to give up. Man, it’s hard. Every single day is different. You’re not going to always be happy. You’re not going to always want to eat. You’re not going to always want to get up and do what you’re supposed to. But it’s just something in you that lets you know. I swear, I felt this day was coming, I knew it, said Ivory Smith.

They family plans to hold another vigil again next year to continue honoring Terry, Sherri, Tiara and Davon