(Adams County, Indiana) - The murder of an elderly war veteran in northern Indiana nearly 50 years ago has been solved.

 

On August 19, 1977, 84-year-old Everett Armstrong was found dead in his humble two-room mobile home in Geneva, Indiana about 45 minutes south of Ft. Wayne. Armstrong was a World War I veteran and well-known local banjo player. According to a news report at the time, Armstrong’s death was first presumed to be the result of natural causes, and an investigation—which eventually spanned 48 years—almost never happened.

 

A fuel oil delivery driver, suspicious that Armstrong didn’t answer his door, notified authorities. This is recorded in an August 21, 1977 story published by the Indianapolis Star. Armstrong’s body was found inside his front door with a puppy standing lone vigil, said the article. The body was routinely transferred to a local funeral home. Only then did someone notice hundreds of shotgun pellet wounds to Armstrong’s face and neck. According to the Star, the Adams County Coroner later admitted that he mistakenly released the body before examining the scene.

 

At the time, police had no suspect, no motive, and little evidence. Armstrong’s son told the Star that his father owned nothing of value, except a television and his banjo. Armstrong had apparently been shot at close range through his screen door; no entry had been made. Nearby residents only reported hearing a single gunshot.

 

A potential suspect was identified two months later, but it took three years for the Adams County Sheriff’s Department to make an arrest of three people. However, those suspects were soon cleared, and the case went cold… for decades.

 

In 2013 State Police reopened the case and started following up on an alleged confession made within 24 hours of the shooting to four different people by one James A. McBride II of Decatur. According to police, those witnesses reported McBride’s extremely erratic behavior at the time and his knowledge of crime scene details that had not been released to the public.

 

Fast forward to this year. After relentless detective work, the Indiana State Police Cold Case Team presented their findings to the Adams County Prosecutor, who found probable cause for McBride’s arrest. Unfortunately, McBride, who was just shy of his 23rd birthday at the time of the killing, passed away last June at the age of 69. So the case is now considered closed.