Man guilty of killing girl in 1986 sentenced to 60 years - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A 69-year-old Indianapolis man already in prison was sentenced to 60 years for killing a 13-year-old girl in 1986.

Paul Reese Sr. was sentenced Wednesday afternoon in Marion Superior Court in Indianapolis.

A jury convicted him June 22 for the murder of Dawn Stuard of Indianapolis.

Reese was arrested shortly after the girl was found strangled in 1986 but never tried until this year. He was charged last year after investigators said new DNA evidence proved blood found in his basement belonged to the girl.

Reese is currently in prison for burglary. One of his sons is imprisoned for the attempted murder of an Indianapolis police officer in 2008.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry issued this statement:

"The murder of Dawn Stuard in 1986 cut short the life of a thirteen year-old girl. For 25 years, Paul Reese, Sr. evaded prosecution for taking her life. It was the dogged and persistent police work of our IMPD detectives, and in particular that of former IPD Sgt. Steve West, which ultimately brought Reese to justice.

When Reese was charged with murder in February 2011, Sgt. West, who is now an investigator with the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, said he just wanted Dawn to have her day in court.

Not only did Dawn have her day in court, but the man who killed her will likely die in prison for his crime. While we will never be able to bring Dawn back to live among us, her legacy lives on in the work of those law enforcement officers who are committed to giving every victim of unsolved crimes their day in court."

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