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Aug 29 2022
www.wthitv.com
''BRAZIL, Ind. (WTHI) - Nearly 34 years ago, a 16-year-old and her stepfather were murdered in Brazil, Indiana.
Decades later, their family is still asking for answers.
Shane Mustard is Tonya Pickett's stepbrother.
Tonya was just 16 when she came home from a school dance and later that night, she and her stepdad, Ricky Mustard, were shot and killed.
Shane says nearly 34 years later, he's hoping justice is served.
A cold, rainy November night in 1988 changed a young Shane Mustard's life forever.
His father and step-sister were both shot and killed in their home.
"When it happened I was 13, I mean, it was traumatizing, it would be traumatizing for anybody, especially at a young age. Now, I mean, it's still traumatizing, but I mean, it's just, we would like some type of closure," Mustard said.''
Nov 19, 2018
''He said he always felt Tonya's boyfriend should have been the prime suspect, because the couple was seen together at a basketball game, dance and a restaurant in the hours before Pickett and Mustard were killed.''
Witnesses also told police the couple had been arguing that evening before the teenager was dropped off at home by her boyfriend.''
''Police exhausted the leads they had at the time. No weapon was ever found. Both Pickett and Mustard were shot in the head at close range.''
''But Chuck Pickett was dismayed by the dismissal of those charges in 2012 after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled some undated letters between Pickett and Lovett could not be used as evidence in the case against Lovett.
“The Court of Appeals dropped the ball,” Pickett said Monday of the 2012 decision. “In those letters, Tonya wrote about her fears of Lovett. To us, her family, they should have let a jury decide about the letters.”
"It was traumatizing" Son, step-brother of victims in 34-year-old cold case still wants answers
Nearly 34 years ago, a 16-year-old and her stepfather were murdered in Brazil, Indiana.
Decades later, their family is still asking for answers.
Shane Mustard is Tonya Pickett's stepbrother.
Tonya was just 16 when she came home from a school dance and later that night, she and her stepdad, Ricky Mustard, were shot and killed.
Shane says nearly 34 years later, he's hoping justice is served.
A cold, rainy November night in 1988 changed a young Shane Mustard's life forever.
His father and step-sister were both shot and killed in their home.
"When it happened I was 13, I mean, it was traumatizing, it would be traumatizing for anybody, especially at a young age. Now, I mean, it's still traumatizing, but I mean, it's just, we would like some type of closure," Mustard said.''
''He said he always felt Tonya's boyfriend should have been the prime suspect, because the couple was seen together at a basketball game, dance and a restaurant in the hours before Pickett and Mustard were killed.''
Witnesses also told police the couple had been arguing that evening before the teenager was dropped off at home by her boyfriend.''
''Police exhausted the leads they had at the time. No weapon was ever found. Both Pickett and Mustard were shot in the head at close range.''
''But Chuck Pickett was dismayed by the dismissal of those charges in 2012 after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled some undated letters between Pickett and Lovett could not be used as evidence in the case against Lovett.
“The Court of Appeals dropped the ball,” Pickett said Monday of the 2012 decision. “In those letters, Tonya wrote about her fears of Lovett. To us, her family, they should have let a jury decide about the letters.”
