GUILTY IN - Erika Case, 19, stabbed to death, Vigo County, 6 Sept 1998

[Sunrisenow]

I haven't found a thread for this case on WS, but this example shows that not giving up on cold cases can break the perp at the end.

Erika Case and her sister were house sitting on Sunflower Place in Vigo County. Erika was found dead the next morning, murdered by a stab wound to the neck.

Clint Mackey and a friend picked up Erika Case and took her to a Vigo County home where she was house sitting.

The friend said Mackey attempted to have sex with Erika and she continued to turn him down. The two of them then left the house. Both told police later, when they left Erika Case, she was just fine.

Then, the case went cold, for 15 years.

The Vigo County Sheriff’s Department was able to move forward with the case with help from the television show ‘Cold Justice’ and TNT. On January 21, Mackey went to the Benton County, Iowa sheriff’s office and confessed.

http://wthitv.com/2014/01/24/cold-case-details-released/


More coverage:
http://wthitv.com/2014/01/24/311/
http://wthitv.com/2014/01/24/erika-case-cold-case-press-conference/

 

[evelyn24]

I haven't found a thread for this case on WS, but this example shows that not giving up on cold cases can break the perp at the end.









http://wthitv.com/2014/01/24/cold-case-details-released/


More coverage:
http://wthitv.com/2014/01/24/311/
http://wthitv.com/2014/01/24/erika-case-cold-case-press-conference/

goodness I just now finished watching this episode of Cold Justice on TNT. It was an amazing episode. Very sad all the way around, and I hope WS'ers get to see it.
If you have TNT you can watch it on demand. I also think their website allows you to watch the full episode.

Please watch this episode if you guys get a chance.

It's S2 E5 'He said, She said'

 

[neverletgo]

I was so thrilled to hear that the Case family may finally get justice in Erika's murder! :skip:

I'm going to post some more articles on the case that I've posted in the 'Cold Justice' thread:

Prosecutor Kelly Siegler Has New Show - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[neverletgo]

Erika Case cold case press conference - YouTube

 

[neverletgo]

Arrest made in 1998 cold case
Clinton Bryan Mackey extradited back to Vigo County, will make court appearance today
Lisa Trigg The Tribune-Star
January 23, 2014

Snipped

:

Chief Deputy Clark Cottom confirmed that Ewing ordered the investigation into the Erika Case homicide be reopened about six months ago. Investigative assistance came from the television drama, “Cold Justice,” on the TNT network. The Feb. 14 episode of the television series is scheduled to feature the Case homicide.

http://www.tribstar.com/bigstory/x1767998876/Arrest-made-in-1998-cold-case-murder

 

[neverletgo]

Iowa man arrested in 1998 cold case murder of Indiana woman
Published January 26, 2014
FoxNews.com

Snipped

:

Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said county detectives had obtained a full and detailed confession from Mackey, who waived extradition to Indiana during a Thursday hearing before a Benton County, Iowa, judge.

Modesitt said evidence is still being gathered in the case and witnesses are still being interviewed.

"We want a solid case, a confession alone in a case is not enough," he said.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/26/iowa-man-arrested-in-18-cold-case-murder-indiana-woman/

 

[neverletgo]

Vigo County authorities arrest man in 1998 cold case murder
VIGO COUNTY (Jan. 24, 2014)

Snipped

:

Investigators closely reexamined evidence and submitted it for testing using techniques that were unavailable in 1998. They interviewed more than 30 people, including Mackey, who spoke to authorities in November 2013 in Benton County, Iowa.

http://fox59.com/2014/01/24/vigo-county-authorities-arrest-man-in-1998-cold-case-murder/

 

[neverletgo]

Vinton man charged in 1998 Indiana homicide
19-year-old woman was stabbed 33 times, officials say
Updated: 24 January 2014 | 3:50 pm

Snipped

:

Capt. John Moats said they had the help of former detectives who were building on the case over the last 15 years, and they gathered more information with each new interview of the witnesses. They re-examined all the evidence and new advancements in technology concerning DNA helped them.

Moats said Mackey knew everything they were doing.

Ewing said witnesses would call Mackey and ask him about his involvement after talking with authorities.

“His friends were calling him and…..on Facebook…asking him questions,” Ewing said.

http://thegazette.com/2014/01/24/vinton-man-charged-in-1998-indiana-homicide/

 

[neverletgo]

Vinton man jailed for '98 murder in Indiana; authorities say he has confessed
By Vinton Today · 11:02am January 24th, 2014

Snipped

:

“Let’s see if social media can help us find a killer,” wrote a member of the Vigo County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Office on that department’s Facebook page on Jan. 16.

A week later, 15 years and four months after the murder of 19-year-old Erika Case in Terra Haute, Ind., that search for a killer led Indiana authorities back to Vinton and the arrest of a local resident who was a teenager in Terra Haute when the murder took place.

http://www.vintoniowa.org/articles/News/article1011541.html

 

[bessie]

Excellent! Chalk up one for Indiana. Imagine having your friends posting those questons on your FB page. Think he was a little tormented? Congrats to the detectives who played him so well.

 

[im1096]

It makes me sad that it took SO long to arrest Mackey. According to my son - who was one year older and at the same school - everyone knew who did it. My son gave me Mackey's name ONE day after the murder occurred. I can only guess that they were waiting for more evidence to make the arrest.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.vintoniowa.org/articles/News/article1013597.html

The cold case murder trial of former Vinton resident Clint Mackey has been re-set for April 20, 2015, in Terre Haute, Indiana.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://wthitv.com/2015/04/08/man-charged-with-murder-of-erica-case-will-not-be-tried-until-december/

A man charged with murdering a West Terre Haute girl in the 1990’s won’t be tried until the end of this year.

A judge continued Clinton Mackey’s trial to Dec. 14.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

"A day 17 years in the making: Clinton Mackey sentenced to 40 years for murder of Erika Case"

http://wthitv.com/2015/07/20/a-day-17-years-in-the-making-clinton-mackey-sentenced-to-40-years-for-murder-of-erika-case/

Vigo County Judge John Roach accepted Mackey’s plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and agreed to serve 40 years for the crime.

He also gave up his right to appeal. It’s a deal the family says they fully support.

 

[im1096]

The really sad thing is that they have known Clint did it from day one but they couldn't prove it. My oldest son went to school with them both and apparently the entire school knew.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[PastTense]

"A Vigo County man sentenced to 40 years in prison in the September 1998 stabbing death of a West Terre Haute teenager has died.

Clinton Bryan Mackey, 39, formerly of West Terre Haute, died Saturday according to the Indiana Department of Corrections.

An autopsy conducted Monday determined his manner of death to be suicide caused by asphyxia due to hanging."
Man convicted of killing WTH teen dies in prison