Indiana Man Arrested After 20 Years for Double Murder of Boy and Stepmother

An Indiana man, Michael Jerome James, 35, has been arrested at his home in Shelbyville after being on the run for 20 years. He is accused of murdering 26-year-old Chynna Dickus and her 10-year-old stepson, Blake Dickus, who were found stabbed to death in their Franklin home in July 2006. Franklin Police, Shelby County Police, and an FBI agent conducted the arrest. James was 14 at the time of the killings and will be tried as an adult after being indicted on two counts of murder, according to Johnson County prosecutor Lance Hamner. The evidence linking James to the murders has not been disclosed by prosecutors. The bodies were discovered by Sean Dickus, the boy's father, upon returning home from work. Reports indicate that James grew up nearby and was adopted by his aunt after his mother's death. The motive for the killings remains unclear, and investigators previously considered possible links to burglaries and domestic violence. Franklin Police Chief Kirby Cochran praised the officers for their persistent efforts in the case, stating that the indictment represents 20 years of investigative work. Authorities are not seeking any additional suspects in connection with the murders. The arrest occurred shortly after a reward for information about the case increased to $100,000.